Copyright© 2006 by School Services of California, Inc.

                                      Volume 19                   For Publication Date: December 15, 2006             No. 26

By the Way . . .
 

2007 Tentative Legislative Calendar Available. Following are some of the more important dates for your information: 

·                    January 1—Statutes take effect. Legislation that was signed into law during the previous session that did not contain an urgency clause or specify an effective date will become operative on the first day of the new year. 

·                    January 3—Despite working one day this year—which was mostly pomp and circumstance—legislators return to Sacramento on this date to begin work in earnest. 

·                    January 9—The Governor delivers his State-of-the-State address, which provides the Governor an opportunity to outline his agenda for the coming year. 

·                    January 10—The Governor is required to release his proposed State Budget. Our SSC analysis will be posted that evening. The release of the proposed Budget is then followed by the Legislative Analyst’s Office’s (LAO’s) release of its 2007-08 Budget Analysis, which will give perspectives on the state’s fiscal condition and the Budget proposed by the Governor. Expect the Analysis to be released during the third week of February. Look for a Update article on the LAO’s report at that time. [Note: SSC’s Governor’s Budget workshop will be held January 16 in Long Beach and January 17 in Sacramento, with both morning and afternoon sessions in each location. The morning session in Sacramento is full.] 

·                    February 23—The last day for legislators to introduce bills. While they can still gut and amend a bill into something completely different during the session, legislators must utilize the bills they have after this date.

·                    March 29—The legislative spring recess is scheduled to begin. Legislators will return to work on April 9.

·                    Throughout March and April—Legislative Budget Subcommittees in both houses will hold hearings to discuss the Governors proposals, although major decisions are typically not made until the Administration’s May Revision is released.

·                    May 15—The Governor’s May Revision is required to be released by no later than
May 15 of each year and provides updated state revenue forecasts and expenditure estimates to the January Budget Proposal. [Note: SSC’s May Revise workshop is scheduled for May 18 in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego, and Santa Barbara; and May 21 in San Jose, Bakersfield, Redding, Santa Rosa, and Ontario.] 

·                    June 15—The California Constitution requires that the Legislature pass the 2007-08 Budget Bill by midnight on this date.

·                    June 30—The Constitution also requires that the Budget Bill be enacted by the Governor by this date.

·                    July 20—The legislative summer recess is scheduled to begin, if the Budget Bill has been enacted. This typically serves as a motivator for passing a State Budget.  

·                    August 20—The Legislature is scheduled to return.  

·                    September 14—The last day of the first year of the legislative session. The Legislature has until midnight to complete its business. However, there have been times when the clock is stopped at midnight and one or both houses continue to work until finished. 

October 14—The last day for the Governor to sign or veto legislation that was approved by the Legislature. If the Governor neither signs nor vetoes a bill it will become law automatically.