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Inventory of the California Law Revision Commission Records
R178, F3883:1-465
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Title: California State Law Revision Commission Records
Dates: 1954-2010
Collection number: R178, F3883:1-465
Creator:
State Law Revision Commission
Collection Size:
88.5 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The California Law Revision Commission Records consist of 88.5 cubic feet of textual materials organized into eleven record
series: Study Files, 1954-1978; Approved Minutes, 1970-2010; Minutes, 1974-2005; Memoranda Files, 1977-2007; Tentative Recommendations,
1977-2000; Bill Files, 1961-1970; Legislative files, 1959-1969; 1980, Research Files, 1959-1991; Inverse Condemnation Files,
1954-1978; Correspondence Sent, 1975-1995; and General Correspondence, 1979-1988. It is the Law Revision Commission's practice
to annually review the calendar of topics that it is authorized to study so that they may make recommendations and propose
changes as necessary.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], California Law Revision Commission Records, [Identification number].[series number], Box [number],
folder [number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the State Law Revision Commission Records according to state law.
The California Law Revision Commission was created in 1953 through Chapter 1445 as a successor to the California Code Commission
(1929-1953). The commission consists of one Senator, one Assembly Member, Legislative Counsel and seven members appointed
by the Governor and with the approval of the Senate. The Legislative Counsel is an ex officio member of the Commission.
The California Law Revision Commission is an independent agency and makes recommendations to the Legislature and Governor
about revisions to California law. The commission only studies topics that are authorized by the Legislature and the number
of agenda topics and the topics themselves may vary year to year. Once legislation is submitted to the legislature, the Commission
makes sure that its recommendations are understood and implemented as they intended and reviews legislation recommending changes
as necessary. When reviewing proposed reform to a law, the commission solicits public input and suggestions from other sources
including the American Law Institute, the national Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, judges, lawyers, public
official, and bar associations. Then the commission makes final recommendations to the Legislature and Governor.
The Law Revision Commission is the tool that the Legislature uses to maintain systematic reviews of areas of antiquated or
inequitable laws as well as to bring laws up-to-date with modern conditions. Before the Commission, law reform to specific
fields was often erratic but through the commission entire codes can be altered through large comprehensive statutes.
The California Law Revision Commission Records consist of 88.5 cubic feet of textual materials organized into eleven record
series: Study Files, 1954-1978; Approved Minutes, 1970-2010; Minutes, 1974-2005; Memoranda Files, 1977-2007; Tentative Recommendations,
1977-2000; Bill Files, 1961-1970; Legislative files, 1959-1969; 1980, Research Files, 1959-1991; Inverse Condemnation Files,
1954-1978; Correspondence Sent, 1975-1995; and General Correspondence, 1979-1988. It is the Law Revision Commission's practice
to annually review the calendar of topics that it is authorized to study so that they may make recommendations and propose
changes as necessary.
Minutes is the largest series in the collection and includes studies, information for legislative bills under review or proposed
legislation, letters to and from the committee about proposed changes, memoranda, and transcripts of meetings. These files
document the Commission's projects and plans for updating and introducing legislation. The Commission meetings generally
took place once per month and were held throughout California. Memoranda Files are the second largest series and include
discussions on probate law, property law, trial court unification, eminent domain, health care, and common interest development.
The Commission created the Memornandums so that their ideas and positions were clear on proposed changes to the laws.
The Commission conducted studies of various subjects in order to make recommendations that would free the Legislature to discuss
policy questions rather than focus on legal and technical problems. Probate law is a re-occurring topic within this collection
while other topics that occur through several series in the collection include powers of attorney, enforcement of judgments
law, guardianship-conservatorship law, community property revisions, and amendments to the family code as well as various
other topics.
Further accruals are expected.
Related Collections at the California State Archives
California Constitution Revision Commission Records
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
California Law Revision Commission
California Code Commission