State mandates: procedure.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse a local government, including a school district, whenever the Legislature or a state agency mandates a new program or higher level of service on the local government, with specified exceptions. Existing law establishes a test claim procedure for local governmental agencies to file claims for reimbursement of these costs with the Commission on State Mandates. Existing law authorizes the test claimant and the Department of Finance to notify the commission of their intent to develop a reasonable reimbursement methodology and statewide estimate of costs for the initial claiming period and budget year for reimbursement of costs mandated by the state, as specified. Existing law requires the test claimant and the Department of Finance to submit to the commission a joint proposal, which includes, among other things, the reasonable reimbursement methodology and statewide estimate of costs for the initial claiming period and budget year, no later than 60 days before a commission hearing. This bill would instead require the test claimant and the Department of Finance to submit the proposal to the commission no later than 45 days before a commission hearing.