BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SCA 17
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 6, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   SCA 17 (Steinberg) - As Amended:  May 15, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                             Rules Vote:11-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This measure proposes to amend the State Constitution to  
          authorize each house of the Legislature, by a two-thirds  
          majority vote, to suspend a legislator, based on findings and  
          declarations for the suspension, and without salary or benefits  
          for the period of the suspension.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)One-time General Fund printing cost of about $275,000, based  
            on $55,000 per page, to include in the statewide ballot  
            pamphlet the text of the measure, title and summary,  
            Legislative Analyst's Office analysis, and arguments in  
            support and opposition.

          2)Potential minor avoided General Fund salary and benefit costs  
            to the extent any legislator is suspended following approval  
            of this amendment by the voters.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background . On March 28, 2014, the Senate approved Senate  
            Resolution 38 (Steinberg) which suspended Senator Ronald  
            Calderon, Senator Roderick Wright, and Senator Leland Yee  
            until all criminal proceedings currently pending against them  
            have been dismissed. This vote followed a February 25, 2014  
            opinion by the Legislative Counsel confirming the Senate may  
            suspend the authority of a senator to exercise the privileges  
            of the office, but may not suspend the salary or benefits of a  
            senator for the duration of the suspension given that the  
            Constitution vests the California Citizens Compensation  
            Commission with the responsibility to establish the annual  








                                                                  SCA 17
                                                                  Page  2

            salary and benefits of members of the Legislature.

           2)Purpose  . This measure, subject to voter approval, would allow  
            for suspension of members and forfeiture of their salary and  
            benefits during suspension.

           3)Article IV, Section 5  of the California Constitution allows  
            the Legislature "to judge the qualifications and elections of  
            its Members and, by rollcall vote entered in the journal, two  
            thirds of the membership concurring, may expel a Member." 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081