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ACA-23 Legislative committees: prohibition on holding bills in committee.(2017-2018)

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ACA23:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Constitutional Amendment
No. 23

Introduced by Assembly Member Melendez

February 12, 2018

A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 11 of Article IV thereof, relating to the Legislature.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


ACA 23, as introduced, Melendez. Legislative committees: prohibition on holding bills in committee.
Existing provisions of the California Constitution authorize the Legislature or either house thereof 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 enact the Legislative Transparency Act, which would require a standing committee to vote by roll call on each bill the committee hears regarding recommendation to the house, and would prohibit a standing committee from holding a bill in lieu of voting on recommendation to the house.
Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  
Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California at its 2017-18 Regular Session commencing on the fifth day of December 2016, two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of the State of California that the Constitution of the State be amended as follows:

First—

 That Section 11 of Article IV thereof is amended to read:

SEC. 11.
 (a) The Legislature or either house may by resolution 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.
(b) (1) A standing committee shall vote by roll call on each bill the committee hears to determine whether or not to recommend the bill to the house. A standing committee shall not hold a bill in committee in lieu of voting on whether or not to recommend the bill to the house.
(2) A chairperson whose committee violates this subdivision shall be removed from membership on the committee and shall not be reappointed to that committee for the remainder of the session.

Second—

 That this measure shall be known and may be cited as the “Legislative Transparency Act.”