[EL] Government Money and Election Systems in California: Two Pending Bills

[David A. Holtzman]

In the California Legislature, bills that involve money go to a fiscal 
committee in each house.If the fiscal committee approves a bill, it goes 
on to the full house (Assembly or Senate).If not, it can still get 
there, but special intervention is required.

One thing a fiscal committee can do rather than vote down a bill is put 
the bill in a "suspense file."That's been routine practice for a long 
time, for bills that involve unfunded mandates estimated to be more 
costly than a fluctuating threshold.

Just this week, two election system bills met different fates:

1. SB 397, providing for an online voter registration option.The bill 
specifies that its costs would have to be covered by federal 
funds.Fiscal committee (the Assembly Committee on Appropriations) says 
ok! (12 ayes, 5 nays)

2.SB 641, providing for election-day voter registration (and no 
registration-closed days at all).Statewide costs to the General Fund 
estimated at $300,000 to $600,000 (or $5,000 to $10,000 per county).Same 
fiscal committee puts the bill in its suspense file.

Interesting.Remember: fiscal impact matters.

- dah



-- 
David A. Holtzman, M.P.H., J.D.
david at holtzmanlaw.com

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