Inventory of the California Law Revision Commission Records
Processed by Brenda Newman
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: archivesweb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2012
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the California State Law Revision Commission Records
Collection number: F3883:1-465, R178
California State Archives
Office of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, California
- Processed by:
- Brenda Newman
- Date Completed:
- August 2012
- Encoded by:
- Sara Kuzak
© 2012 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
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
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
Administrative Information
Access
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
[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.
Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content
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.
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
Related Collections at the California State Archives
California Constitution Revision Commission Records
Indexing Terms
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
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.