Sen. Jeff Denham

The California Constitution prohibits a bill from being passed by the Legislature until the bill with amendments has been printed and distributed to the Members. This measure would prohibit passage of a bill by a house of the Legislature unless, at least 48 hours in advance, the bill is made available to the public on the Internet, except that the house may dispense with this requirement by rollcall vote, 34 of the membership concurring.

This measure would request that the President and the Congress of the United States pass the H.R. 2474 that would restore funding for California veterans pursuing higher education.

(1) The California Constitution requires the Legislature to convene in regular biennial session at noon on the first Monday in December of each even-numbered year to consider legislation and the Budget Bill. This measure would require, commencing in 2015, that the Legislature convene in regular biennial session, commencing at noon on the first Monday in February of each odd-numbered year and adjourning sine die at midnight of June 30 of the following even-numbered year. The measure would require that the sessions held in odd-numbered years be budget sessions, and that sessions held in even-numbered years be general sessions. The measure would require the Legislature, in each budget session, to adopt Budget Bills for each of the 2 subsequent fiscal years. The measure would prohibit the Legislature, during a budget session, from considering legislation other than the Budget Bills and related revenue bills, except bills addressing a declared state of emergency. The measure would further prohibit the Legislature from meeting in regular session after June 30 of any calendar year, except for a single period after that date of up to 5 consecutive calendar days to reconsider bills vetoed by the Governor. The measure would provide that, at general sessions, the Legislature may consider any legislation other than Budget Bills. (2) The California Constitution requires the California Citizens Compensation Commission, at or before the end of each fiscal year, to adopt a resolution to adjust the annual salary and the medical, dental, insurance, and similar benefits of elected constitutional officers, as defined, including Members of the Legislature. The annual salary and benefits specified in this resolution become effective on and after the first Monday of the next December without further action by the Legislature. This measure would require the commission to reduce the annual salary of Members of the Legislature, effective December 1, 2014, by 50% and would require the commission to apply the existing criteria for adjusting this annual salary to maintain it at 50% of the amount that would otherwise be determined. (3) The California Constitution requires that a budget annually be submitted by the Governor, and that the Legislature pass a Budget Act on or before June 15. This measure would require, in each odd-numbered calendar year, commencing in 2015, that the Governor submit to the Legislature 2 proposed budgets for the 2 subsequent fiscal years, respectively. (4) The California Constitution requires each house to choose its officers and to adopt rule for its proceedings. A majority of the membership of each house constitutes a quorum, but a smaller number may recess from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members. The California Constitution prohibits either house, without the consent of the other, from calling a recess for more than 10 days or to any other place. This measure would prohibit either house, without the consent of the other, from calling a recess for more than 3 days or to any other place. (5) Under the California Constitution, the total aggregate expenditures of the Legislature for the compensation of Members and employees of, and the operating expenses and equipment for, the Legislature may not exceed an amount equal to $950,000 per Member for that fiscal year or 80% of the amount of money expended for those purposes in the preceding fiscal year, whichever is less. For each succeeding fiscal year, the total aggregate expenditures may not exceed an amount equal to that expended for those purposes in the preceding fiscal year, adjusted and compounded by an amount equal to the percentage increase in the appropriations limit for the State. This measure would provide, for the 2015–16 fiscal year, that the total aggregate expenditures of the Legislature for the compensation of Members and employees of, and the operating expenses and equipment for, the Legislature may not exceed an amount equal to $475,000 per Member for that fiscal year. For each succeeding fiscal year, the total aggregate expenditures may not exceed an amount equal to that expended for those purposes in the preceding fiscal year, adjusted and compounded by an amount equal to the percentage increase in the appropriations limit for the state. (6) The California Constitution authorizes each house of the Legislature to provide for the selection of committees necessary for the conduct of its business, including committees to ascertain facts and make recommendations to the Legislature on a subject within the scope of legislative control. This measure would authorize each standing policy committee of each house to meet on or after July 1 of each year for purposes of factfinding and review of programs within the subject area of the committee. The measure would prohibit a standing policy committee of either house to consider a bill or proposed legislation until the house convenes for the subsequent budget session or general session. (7) The California Constitution permits revenues from taxes imposed by the state on motor vehicle fuels and funds in the Public Transportation Account in the State Transportation Fund to be loaned to the General Fund. That loan is required to be repaid in full either during the same fiscal year in which the loan was made or within 3 fiscal years from the date on which the loan was made if specified conditions apply. If the loan is to be repaid in full during the same fiscal year, the repayment may be delayed until a date not more than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Budget Bill for the subsequent fiscal year. The measure would provide that the repayment may be delayed until a date not more than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Budget Bill for the subsequent fiscal year, or July 31 of that subsequent fiscal year, whichever is later.

Existing law establishes various student financial aid programs under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, and establishes eligibility requirements for the receipt of awards under those programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions. Existing law establishes the Military Department, which includes the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, and the Naval Militia, to perform various duties regarding the state militia. This bill would establish the California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program on behalf of qualifying members of the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, and the Naval Militia under the administration of the commission. The bill would require the Student Aid Commission, in consultation with the Military Department, to adopt emergency rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing the program. The bill would require the Student Aid Commission to report annually to the Legislature regarding program participation. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst, on or before January 1, 2016, to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on the program. The bill would provide that the program would become operative only if funds are appropriated for the purposes of the program. The bill would also provide that implementation of the program would be contingent upon the receipt of federal funds. The program would become inoperative on July 1, 2019, and would be repealed on January 1, 2020.

The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law authorize various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws, including a credit for an increase in qualified employees of a qualified employer. This bill would, under both laws, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2010, allow a credit in an amount equal to 25% of the wages, not exceeding $6,000, paid to each qualified veteran, as defined, by the taxpayer during the taxable year. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

The California Constitution establishes the University of California as a public trust and requires the university to be administered by the Regents of the University of California, a corporation in the form of a board, with full powers of organization and government, subject to legislative control only for specified purposes. These provisions grant the regents all powers necessary or convenient for the effective administration of its trust. This measure would prohibit an increase in the mandatory systemwide fees charged to students attending the university that is adopted by the regents from becoming effective before 180 calendar days have elapsed after the date on which the increase is adopted. The measure would prohibit the regents from increasing mandatory systemwide fees in any fiscal year by a cumulative amount exceeding 10% of the mandatory systemwide fees charged for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(1) The California Constitution requires the Legislature to convene in regular biennial session at noon on the first Monday in December of each even-numbered year to consider legislation and the Budget Bill. This measure would require the Legislature to convene in regular biennial session, but would require, commencing on December 6, 2010, that the sessions held in odd-numbered years be budget sessions, and sessions held in even-numbered years be general sessions. The measure would require the Legislature in the budget session to adopt Budget Bills for each of the 2 subsequent fiscal years. The measure would require the Legislature, during a budget session, to meet only to conduct oversight and review of the revenues and expenditures of the state and to consider Budget Bills, budget implementation bills, as defined, and related revenue bills, except the Legislature could consider urgency statutes. (2) The California Constitution requires that a budget be submitted by the Governor, and that the Legislature pass a Budget Act on or before June 15. Funds may be expended from the State Treasury for support of the state government only through an appropriation made by the Legislature. This measure would require, in each odd-numbered calendar year, commencing in 2011, that the Governor submit to the Legislature 2 proposed budgets for the 2 subsequent fiscal years, respectively. (3) The California Constitution permits revenues from taxes imposed by the state on motor vehicle fuels and funds in the Public Transportation Account in the State Transportation Fund to be loaned to the General Fund. That loan is required to be repaid in full either during the same fiscal year in which the loan was made or within 3 fiscal years from the date on which the loan was made if specified conditions apply. If the loan is to be repaid in full during the same fiscal year, the repayment may be delayed until a date not more than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Budget Bill for the subsequent fiscal year. The measure would provide that the repayment may be delayed until a date not more than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Budget Bill for the subsequent fiscal year, or July 31 of that subsequent fiscal year, whichever is later.

Existing law requires the Department of General Services to maintain an inventory of real property held by the state, and prescribes the disposition of surplus state property. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would require the department identify $1,000,000,000 worth of state property that can be sold immediately to help close the state's budget deficit, and that would require state agencies and departments that may be affected by the sale of land or structures to determine the costs and benefits of leasing back their existing space or finding new space.

Under existing law the Department of Veterans Affairs has specified powers and duties relating to military veterans, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is in charge of the department. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive, changes and correct an obsolete reference.

Existing law establishes the University of California, which is administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, which is administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, which is administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law authorizes the regents, the trustees, and the board to employ officers and other employees. This bill would prohibit the trustees from increasing the monetary compensation, as defined, of, or approving a monetary bonus for, any executive officer, as defined, of the California State University in any fiscal year in which the General Fund appropriation to the California State University in the annual Budget Act is less than, or equal to, the General Fund appropriation to the university in the annual Budget Act for the immediately preceding fiscal year. The bill would request the regents to not increase the monetary compensation of, or approve a monetary bonus for, any executive officer, as defined, of the University of California, in any fiscal year in which the General Fund appropriation to the University of California in the annual Budget Act is less than, or equal to, the General Fund appropriation to the university in the annual Budget Act for the immediately preceding fiscal year.