The Roosevelt Institution

CAL Sen Committes

Memo: California State Senate Organization – Standing Committees
Date: 09/03/07
From: Kevin J. Powers, Legislative Director – Western Region

Introduction

The California State Senate is the “upper house” of the California State Legislature. The Senate is made up of 40 members, and is currently comprised of 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans. Senators can serve up to two four-year terms. Legislators in California work on a full-time basis. Each Senator represents about 846,791 Californians.

Organization

The California State Senate does the majority of its work in committee, and all legislation is first seen in committee before moving to the floor of the legislature. This memorandum will detail each committee in the California State Senate and identify the leadership.

Standing Committees

Committees that meet with the most frequency, usually once or twice-weekly. The Chair of the committee is a prestigious position, and one can expect that individual to be an expert in their respective field. Senators usually sit on more than one committee.

Agriculture

 Committee meets on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 9:30 A.M. in Room 113.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to agriculture and water supply management. UNIQUE-ONLY COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY A REPUBLICAN

Appropriations

Appropriations Committee meets every Monday at 10:00 A.M. in Room 4203.

JURISDICTION:   Bills that are subject to Joint Rule 10.5 and are not referred to the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Bills that constitute a state-mandated local program.

Banking, Finance and Insurance

Committee meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 1:30 P.M. in Room 112.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to financial institutions, commerce, international trade, retail credit interest rates and corporations

Budget and Fiscal Review

Budget and Fiscal Review meets every Thursday at 8:00 am in Room 4203.

Business, Professions and Economic Development

Business and Professions meets every 2nd and 4th Mondays at 1:30 P.M. in Room 3191.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to business and professional practices and regulations other than bills relating to horseracing, alcoholic beverages, oil, mining, geothermal, or forestry industries.

Education

Education Committee meets every Wednesday at 9:30 am in Room 4203.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to education, higher education, and certificated educational personnel.

Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments

Elections and Reapportionment meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 9:30 am in Room 3191.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to Elections, Reapportionment and proposals to amend the California Constitution.

Energy, Utilities and Communications

Energy, Utilities and Communications meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 9:30 A.M. in Room 3191.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to utilities, energy companies, alternative energy development and conservation, and communications development and technology.

Environmental Quality

Meets every 1st and 3rd Mondays, 1:30 P.M. in Room 112.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to environmental quality, air quality, water quality, integrated waste management, toxics, and hazardous waste.

Governmental Organization

Governmental Organization meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9:30 am in Room 31 91.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to state government organization, horseracing public gaming, the National Guard, alcoholic beverages, and management of public safety emergencies and disaster response, and legislation permitting the use of state-controlled lands. Bills that have been considered by other committees having jurisdiction of the appropriate subject, for consideration of any question relating to state government.

Health

Health Committee meets every Wednesday at 1:30 pm in Room 4203.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to public health, welfare, social services, the blind and disabled, substance abuse, mental health, and institutions related thereto.

Human Services

Human Services: (2nd and 4th Tuesday at 1:30 in room 3191).

Judiciary

Judiciary meets every Tuesday at 1:00 P.M. in Room 112.

JURISDICTION:   Bills amending the following: a. Civil Code, except measures related to retail credit interest rates. b. Code of Civil Procedure. c. Evidence Code, except matters relating to criminal procedure. d. Family Code. e. Probate Code.

Labor and Industrial Relations

Industrial Relations meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 9:30 am in Room 2040.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to labor, industrial safety, unemployment, workers' compensation and insurance, and noncertificated public school employees.

Legislative Ethics

Local Government

Local Government meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 9:30 am in Room 112.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to local governmental procedure and organization. Bills relating to land use. Bills that have been considered by other committees having jurisdiction of the appropriate subject, for consideration of any questions relating to local government administration.

Natural Resources and Water

Natural Resources and Water meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9:30 A.M. in Roo m 112.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to conservation and management of public resources, fish and wildlife, regulation of oil, mining, geothermal development, acid deposition, wetlands and lakes, global atmospheric effects, ocean and bay pollution, forestry practices, recreation, parks and historical resources and beverage container recycling.

Public Safety

Public Safety meets every Tuesday at 9:30 am in Room 4203.

JURISDICTION:   Bills amending the following: a) Evidence Code, relating to criminal procedure. b) Penal Code. c) Statutes of a penal nature not related closely to a subject included in another subdivision of this rule. d) Bills relating to the Youth and Adult Corrections Agency

Revenue and Taxation

Revenue and Taxation meet every 2nd and 4th Wednesday 1:30 P.M., Room 3191.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to state and local revenues and taxation, except bills described in subdivision (a) of Rule 28.9.

Rules

Rules Committee meets every Wednesday, 1:30 pm, Room 113.

JURISDICTION:   Proposed amendments to the rules and other matters relating to the business of the Legislature.

Transportation and Housing

Transportation and Housing Committee meets every Tuesday at 1:30 P. M. in Room 4203, unless otherwise stated in the Senate Daily File.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to the operation, safety, equipment, transfer of ownership, licensing and registration of vehicles, aircraft and vessels. Legislation affecting the Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Bills relating to waterways, harbors, highways, public transportation systems and airports. Bills relating to housing and community development, including those that affect state housing programs for low- and moderate-income families, housing elements and land use approvals for housing developments, the housing obligations of redevelopment agencies, manufactured housing, building codes and standards, common interest developments, and enterprise zones.

Veterans Affairs

Veterans Affairs Committee meets on call of the chairman as needed. Veterans Affairs Committee's designated hearing date is the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. in Room 2040.

JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to veterans, military affairs, and armories. Bills amending the Military and Veterans Code.