Existing provisions of the California Constitution prohibit the Legislature from sending to the Governor for consideration, and prohibit the Governor from signing, a Budget Bill that would appropriate from the General Fund a total amount that, when combined with specified appropriations and transfers, exceeds General Fund revenues for that fiscal year estimated as of the date of the Budget Bill's passage. This measure would require that the estimate of the General Fund revenues for this purpose be the most recent such estimate made jointly by the Controller and the Treasurer. The measure would require the Controller and the Treasurer to provide this revenue estimate to the Governor and the Legislature by January 5, and to correct or update the estimate by April 30.
Sponsored bills
Under the California Constitution, whenever the Legislature or a state agency mandates a new program or higher level of service on any local government, the state is required to provide a subvention of funds to reimburse the local government. With regard to certain mandates imposed on a city, county, city and county, or special district that have been determine to be payable, the Legislature is required either to appropriate, in the annual Budget Act, the full payable amount of the mandate, determined as specified, or to suspend the operation of the mandate for the fiscal year. The California Constitution provides that the Legislature is not required to appropriate funds for specified mandates. This measure would apply the existing requirement that the Legislature either appropriate the full payable amount of a mandate or suspend the mandate only through the 2011–12 fiscal year. The measure would instead prohibit the Legislature or a state agency from mandating a new program or higher level of service on any local government, except as specified, unless the local government is reimbursed for the costs of that new program or higher level of service. The measure would provide that if, on or after July 1, 2012, the Legislature adopts a statute that mandates a new program or higher level of service on any local government, the mandate would not become operative until the operative date of an appropriation of funds to reimburse all affected local governments for the costs of the new program or higher level of service for the remainder of the fiscal year in which the mandate becomes operative. The measure would impose parallel requirements with regard to a regulation mandating a new program or higher level of service. The measure would add, as an additional exemption from the mandates for which the Legislature is required to appropriate funds, a mandate for which the governing body of the local government has statutory authority to impose a fee, assessment, or other charge that pays for the costs of the program or increased level of service and that is paid to the local government by the person or entity that is subject to, is regulated by, or otherwise benefits from, the new program or higher level of service. The measure would authorize a local government to file an action in superior court to challenge the adequacy of the actions taken by the Legislature to reimburse local governments if the Legislature or a state agency mandates a new program or higher level of service. The measure would require the superior court to include, within an order upholding a challenge brought by the local government, an order identifying the amount the court determines is reasonably necessary to reimburse the local government for the costs of the new program or higher level of service.
This measure would declare March 2011 to be Arts Education Month, would encourage all elected officials to participate with their educational communities in celebrating the arts, and would urge all residents to become interested in and give full support to quality school arts programs for children and youth.
This measure would declare March as Campus Safety Month, and would encourage citizens to visit the Internet Web site of the California Postsecondary Education Commission to view public safety information about public and private colleges and universities.
This measure would declare the week of March 14, 2011, through March 18, 2011, as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.
This resolution would designate March 13 through March 19, 2011, as Sunshine Week.
This resolution would recognize the month of January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and it would recognize February 1, 2011, as California's Free From Slavery Day.
This measure would declare March 11, 2011, as Fresno Food Expo Day, and honor the Central San Joaquin Valley for its contribution to California, the nation, and globally for its abundant production of agricultural goods and food production.
This measure would recognize the Lunar New Year 4709 Celebration.
This measure would recognize the month of February 2011 as American Heart Month in California, would recognize February 4, 2011, as Wear Red Day in California, and would urge public support for Go Red for Women events.