Series Descriptions
F3883:1-128, 430-465
Series 1
Study Files
1954-1978
Physical Description: 205 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged numerically by study file number.
Scope and Content Note
Each study file includes various materials including minutes of commission meetings, memoranda and exhibits, correspondence,
reports and studies, publications, and commission recommendations.
Because of their size, study numbers 36 (Eminent Domain) and 39 (Attachment and Garnishment) are further divided into sub-topics
which are arranged by type of record such as minutes, memoranda, correspondence, studies, publications, and recommendations.
See Appendix A at the California State Archives for study numbers, subject titles, and identification numbers.
R178.001, Box 1, folder 1 - Box 2, folder 9
Series 2
Approved Minutes
1970-2010
Physical Description: 29 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by meeting date.
Scope and Content Note
Approved Minutes comprise selected materials from the commission meetings that have been assembled by the commission. The
Approved Minutes are a condensed version of the minutes and may include agendas, notes, letters, and study comments, in addition
to the meeting minutes.
F3883:129-429. R178.002, Box 2, folder 10 - Box 24, folder 2
Series 3
Minutes
1954-2005
Physical Description: 760 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by meeting date.
Scope and Content Note
Minutes contain the meeting agenda as well as the meeting minutes. Also included are studies, information on legislation
under review or proposed legislation, letters to and from the committee about proposed changes, memoranda, and transcripts
of meetings.
February 1954-November 1973, F3883:129-429
February 1974-November 2005, R178.002
R178.003, Box 24, folder 3 - Box 48, folder 5
Series 4
Memoranda Files
1977-2007
Physical Description: 557 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then numerically by memoranda number.
Scope and Content Note
Memoranda Files were created by the Law Revision Commission to discuss possible changes to the law. Prominent topics include
probate law, property law, trial court unification, eminent domain, health care, and common interest development. The memoranda
are created by the Commission to detail thoughts on topics as well as suggestions for revisions. Memoranda may include exhibits,
proposed bills and amendments, letters to and from the commission, tentative recommendations, and information from relevant
court cases.
If a memorandum is listed as "not in file" it may mean one was never created for that number or that it was not received by
the Archives.
See Appendix B at the California State Archives for memoranda numbers, subject titles and identification numbers.
R178.004, Box 48, folders 6-19
Series 5
Tentative Recommendations
1977-2000
Physical Description: 14 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
Tentative Recommendations address issues and changes to law. They are distributed to the public so that people are aware
of the tentative conclusions and can make their comments and suggestions to the Commission. Tentative Recommendations may
include the recommendations, summaries of recommendations, and recommendations to the legislation. Prominent topics include
probate law and inheritance, power of attorney issues, statutes of limitation, trail court unification, and homestead exemptions.
At the beginning of each year is a sheet that lists the study numbers and titles contained in the file for that year.
R178.005, Box 49, folder 1 - Box 50, folder 13
Series 6
Bill Files
1961-1970
Physical Description: 36 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.
Scope and Content Note
Bill files may contain drafts of bills, proposed amendments, correspondence, fiscal reports, memos, commission recommendations,
and reports from legislative committees. A prominent topic in these files is sovereign immunity which involves the liability
of public employees when neglectful or wrongful acts occur on the job. This topic is discussed in SB42 to SB47 of 1963 as
well as SB100 of 1969 and SB94 of 1970.
1961: AB464-AB832 (1ff) Box 49/1
1961: SB202-SB219 (3ff) Box 49/2 - Box 49/4
1963: SB23-SB499 (5ff) Box 49/5 - Box 49/9
1965: AB333-AB1735 (3ff) Box 49/10 - Box 49/12
1965: SB967-SB1140 (4ff) Box 49/10 - Box 49/13
1967: SB244-SB531 (4ff) Box 49/14 - Box 49/17
1968: AB39-AB73 (2ff) Box 49/18 - Box 49/19
1968: SB19-SB71, SCR2-SCR3 (3ff) Box 49/18 - Box 49/22
1969: SB98-SB105, SCR16-SCR17 (4ff) Box 49/23 - Box 50/3
1970: AB123-AB171 (4ff) Box 50/4 - Box 50/7
1970: SB90-SB266, SCR6-SCR8 (6ff) Box 50/8 - Box 50/13
R178.006, Box 50, folders 14 - 22
Series 7
Legislative Files
1959-1969
1980
Physical Description: 9 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year then alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
Legislative Files include correspondence, legislative programs, legislative histories, and status reports on legislation as
well as background materials on bills. Also included is a report on the functions of the Law Revision Commission written
in 1980 that includes a brief history, goals, and functions of the commission as well as some of the topics being studied
at the time including Enforcement of Judgments, the Marketable Title Act, and Community Property.
R178.007, Box 50, folder 23 - Box 52, folder 5
Series 8
Research Files
1959-1991
Physical Description: 26 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
Research Files contain studies, reports, drafts of bills, copies of court cases, newspaper and journal clippings, drafts of
code revisions, correspondence and notes by the Commission that the Commission used as background materials for proposed legislation
and studies conducted. Court Unification comprises most of this series and relates to justice court consolidation and the
consolidation of superior and municipal courts. Within the Court Unification files are administrative files, reports and
research proposals, legislation and proposed legislation as well as other topics. The Research Files document proposed revisions
to the business, civil and government codes as well as annual reports, incentives and retirement benefits for judicial service,
and other topics.
R178.008, Box 52, folder 6 - Box 53, folder 19
Series 9
Inverse Condemnation Files
1954-1978
Physical Description: 44 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged numerically by code number as assigned by the Commission.
Scope and Content Note
Files contain memoranda, studies, correspondence, notes by the Commission, and copies of relevant court cases. Inverse condemnation
takes place when the owner of a piece of property alleges that the government has damaged or obtaind a piece of his or her
property without proper compensation to the owner and the owner is trying to recoup their losses. Subjects discussed within
the files are losses to a person's property or to the value of their property by highway and street improvements, proximity
damage, water damage, and noise damage.
R178.009, Box 53, folder 20 - Box 57, folder 6
Series 10
Correspondence Sent
1975-1995
Physical Description: 89 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by name or affiliation.
Scope and Content Note
The letters found in these files are from the commission and are mainly addressed to lawyers, judges, law professors, and
other committees and branches of government as well as people concerned with changes to California law.
A note to researchers, items were filed different ways over the years and as such may be filed by a person's last name, their
company, or their country of residence. For example, a letter to the Assembly Judiciary Committee may be filed under A or
J, while a letter to a professor at the University of Toronto may be found under his or her name, department, or C for Canada.
R178.010, Box 57, folders 7 - 10
Series 11
General Correspondence
1979-1988
Physical Description: 4 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
These correspondences contain letters to and from the Commission regarding proposed legislation, studies, and requests for
documents.
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