SB 699: Legislature: constitutional course. - California

01/05/26 - Amended Senate → SB699 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The final version of SB 699 broadens the requirement to attend a constitutional course from 'a Member and an employee' to 'all Members and employees' of the Legislature, shifts responsibility for developing and conducting the course from the Joint Rules Committee to the Legislative Counsel Bureau, and significantly expands the required course content to include the Bill of Rights, state constitutional rights and freedoms, and the roles of all three branches of government at both state and federal levels. The bill also now requires fiscal committee review.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was broadened from potentially some members and employees to all Members and employees of the Legislature, and the course content requirements were significantly expanded.

SCOPE

The requirement to attend the constitutional course was broadened from 'a Member of the Legislature and an employee of the Legislature' to 'all Members and employees of the Legislature,' making it apply universally rather than potentially to a subset.

REQUIREMENT

Responsibility for developing and conducting the course shifted from the Joint Rules Committee to the Legislative Counsel Bureau (still in consultation with the Joint Rules Committee).

The required course content was expanded from four topics (federalism, preemption, civil rights, separation of powers) to a broader list that also includes the Bill of Rights, state constitutional rights and freedoms, and the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government at both the state and federal levels.

FISCAL

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal analysis before passage.

03/26/25 - Amended Senate → 01/05/26 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Jan 5, 2026

MODERATE

SB 699 was substantially revised to shift responsibility for developing and conducting a mandatory constitutional course from the Joint Rules Committee to the Legislative Counsel Bureau (in consultation with the Joint Rules Committee), expand the required course topics significantly, clarify that all Members and employees must attend, and remove an unrelated amendment to the Office of Administrative Law provisions. The fiscal committee review requirement was also added.

REQUIREMENT

Primary responsibility for developing and conducting the constitutional course shifted from the Joint Rules Committee to the Legislative Counsel Bureau, which will now do so in consultation with the Joint Rules Committee.

Required course content was expanded from four topics (federalism, preemption, civil rights, separation of powers) to a minimum of seven: federalism, preemption, separation of powers, civil rights, the Bill of Rights, state constitutional rights and freedoms, and the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government at both state and federal levels.

SCOPE

Language changed from 'a Member of the Legislature and an employee of the Legislature' to 'all Members and employees of the Legislature,' emphasizing universal applicability rather than individual obligation.

The bill no longer amends Section 11340.2 of the Government Code, which dealt with the Office of Administrative Law's director and deputy director appointments. This unrelated provision was dropped entirely.

TECHNICAL

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal analysis before passage.

02/21/25 - Introduced → 03/26/25 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Mar 26, 2025

MODERATE

SB 699 was substantially expanded from a minor technical fix to the Office of Administrative Law into a bill that requires all Members of the Legislature and legislative employees to complete a constitutional education course within six months of a regular session convening. The new requirement mandates at least two hours of instruction on federalism, preemption, civil rights, and separation of powers, developed and conducted by the Joint Rules Committee.

Scope change

The bill expanded from a narrow technical amendment to the Office of Administrative Law into a substantive policy requiring constitutional education for all legislators and legislative staff, adding an entirely new code section (9025.5).

REQUIREMENT

New Section 9025.5 added to the Government Code requiring Members of the Legislature and legislative employees to attend a course on the US Constitution and California Constitution within six months of the convening of a regular session.

The course must be at least two hours in length and must address the principles of federalism, preemption, civil rights, and the separation of powers.

SCOPE

The bill's scope expanded from a nonsubstantive amendment to the Office of Administrative Law (Section 11340.2) to include a new substantive requirement for legislative constitutional education.

ENFORCEMENT

The Joint Rules Committee is assigned responsibility for developing and conducting the required constitutional education course.

ELIGIBILITY

Exceptions provided: Members who assume their seat after a regular session convenes have six months from assuming their seat; employees hired after convening have six months from their date of hire.

Legislature: constitutional course.

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