Bill Information - Your 2012 guide to all things Legislative

Here's a quick wrap-up of Bill Writing information for delegates new to our program (or returners ready for a review session):

1.) Where Do Baby Bills Come From? This document will help catch you up - it explains the types of bills we can write; where to find ideas; how to research them; how to figure out where your bill will live among California statutes.

2.) Bill Worksheet.  This document will help you focus your bill work. If your bill is ultimately selected for Sac conference, this doc parallels the supporting information you'll be asked to submit, so you'll be ahead of the game!

3.) Bill Template.  This document shows you what your bill would look like in print. If your bill proceeds to Sac conference, you'll be entering it online, but this template helps you to remember the parts of the bill (the abstract, the body, etc)

• The first line is called "the enacting clause" - it begins "An act to ____________" - the act will either ADD, REPEAL, or AMEND (if your idea is totally new, it adds, if it erases language, it repeals, and if it changes existing law, it amends) the "__________ code" - the second blank will be the code section (Penal, Public Resources, Vehicle, Government, Corporations, etc).  "Relating to _________________" - what's your bill about? And act to amend the penal code, relating to the death penalty? An act to add to the Government code, related to state employee pensions?
• You don't really need to worry too much about a bill abstract right now.
• The language is the biggest concern.  If you are amending a section, cut and paste it from the leginfo website into a new document.  If you are removing language, you use the "strikethrough" option (do this by highlighting the words to strike, right-clicking on them, choose "font" and then click the box next to "strikethrough."  If you are adding language, the new language should be in italics.  The language that doesn't get changed just stays regular. (you don't need to worry about formatting the spacing or the line-numbering as our bills are entered online and not using this template anymore. This is just a guide to help you.)

4.)  Quick research reminders. Start with www.leginfo.ca.gov and Google and move on from there. Make sure your idea doesn't already exist! If it does, can you make it better or more effective? You need to check existing code. It's also not a bad idea to search Bill Information, maybe somebody has tried your idea before and you can take a cue from that effort. Search some keywords for your bill and see what you get. Collect your research. You should describe your efforts on the form and you can/should include links to information you have found. Include sources that support AND oppose your bill. You must learn about both sides otherwise your argument will be weak and easy to target.

Remember: your advisors and fellow delegates are here to help! You can email us, leave a comment here, or drop your question in our FB group. 

Draft bill language is due on Wednesday, October 24 at our meeting. 

It doesn't need to be perfect yet, it just needs to be a good start!