The California Legislature officially reconvened on July 27,
2020, with many legislators returning to the Capitol building in
Sacramento. After several confirmed COVID-19 cases among
legislators and staff postponed their return, Legislators must
push through policy committee meetings, appropriation committee
meetings, and floor sessions to meet the August 31 constitutional
deadline for each house to pass bills. With a month left in the
legislative session and a litany of measures to be heard,
legislators arrive under an air of uncertainty of the
attainability of this undertaking.
Remote testimony and public comment, social distancing
requirements, and a limitation on staff allowed in the building
are just a few health and safety precautions initiated in May
that will continue through the end of session. Additional health
and safety precautions approved by Senate and Assembly leadership
have been proposed such as remote and proxy voting for at-risk
members. While the specifics for the proposals and utilizations
of these distance voting options differ between the two houses,
concerns regarding process and public accountability have been
raised by members of the Legislature as well as the public.
California’s Legislative body has prioritized public health while
they continue to complete their duties as members of the
legislature from Sacramento or their district offices across the
state.
CSAC and advocacy groups have adjusted their engagement styles
with policy makers since the abrupt delay to the legislative
process back in March. CSAC anticipates the last month of
advocacy efforts will continue to include video conference calls,
phone calls, text messages, and emails replacing the classic
walking the halls of the Capitol building. A number of
outstanding bills remain, with the pressure on lawmakers to move
bills through committees and off the floor in a short time frame.
While there has been much talk of the potential for the Governor
to call a Special Legislative Session to complete items past the
August 31 deadline, CSAC will engage with the legislature with a
sense of urgency that characteristically surrounds the completion
of a two-year legislative cycle.
