CSEA Chapter 767

Both houses of the Legislature adjourned Sunday, August 31st wrapping up their work on bills for the 2008 session, but remain on call until they pass the 2008-2009 State Budget. This year’s budget stalemate has broken all records as the longest the state has ever gone without adopting a state spending plan. Under the State Constitution, all non-urgency or non-tax levy bills are required to have been acted upon by the August 31st deadline. Because the budget bill is an urgency measure, it is not subject to the same constitutional deadline and is eligible to be acted upon until November 15th. The Governor would have until November 30 to act on this bill before the 2007-2008 legislative session formally ends November 30 -- sine die.

The Senate Pro Tem has announced that the Senate will convene floor session every day at 4:00 p.m. until a budget is passed. The Speaker of the Assembly has adjourned session, but will call members back to session as needed to address the budget.

In addition to the budget, the Senate has yet to confirm several gubernatorial appointments pending on the Senate floor. The Senate is not expected to take action on these appointments until a budget is passed. Two members of the CCC Board of Governors, Alice Perez and Bobby McDonald, are awaiting Senate Confirmation.

Apart from the budget and gubernatorial appointments, all other legislative business is complete. This year’s session has been marked by a difficult fiscal environment. Although the environment has been tough, the legislature has still supported several important community college related bills this year. What follows is a summary of legislative action taken on key community college bills in the 2007-2008 legislative session. Most bills are still in enrollment and have not yet arrived on the Governor’s desk for action. The Governor has announced that he will not sign bills until a budget is passed; therefore, bills remain in enrollment.