Four bills introduced by Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) were heard in the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committee hearings today. These bills were part of the committees’ Suspense File. Policy proposals with a fiscal impact go to the Appropriation Committee, and those proposals with a significant fiscal impact (generally bills with the cost of $50,000 or more to the General Fund or $150,000 or more to a special fund) are placed on the Suspense File process, and today’s hearings determined whether or not each bill would pass the committee.
Senate Bill 264 extends the sunset date by 5 years to January 1, 2029 for the Disaster Loss Tax Deduction. The Tax Deduction provides for automatic disaster loss relief for any disaster occurring in a city or county that is proclaimed by the Governor to be in a state of emergency. Senate Bill 264 passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will move to the Assembly Floor.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 3 and its companion bill, Senate Bill 858 reform the process by which ballot measure title and summaries are written. It transfers the duty of preparing the ballot title and summary for a proposed initiative or referendum measure from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst. SCA 3 and SB 858 were held in Senate Appropriations Committee.
Senate Bill 548 creates a process for a county and the trial court to separate their joint contract with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) into separate contracts. Senate Bill 548 passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will move to the Assembly Floor.
In addition, Niello is a principal co-author of Senate Bill 43 by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) to expand the definition of "gravely disabled" to encompass people at risk of serious harm to their physical or mental health because of a mental health disorder. Senate Bill 43 passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will move to the Assembly Floor.