Inventory of the California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee Records

Processed by David O'Brien

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/

Inventory of the California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee Records

Collection number: See series descriptions.

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: David O'Brien
Date Completed:: 1 July 2008
Encoded by:: Jessica Knox

Descriptive Summary

Title: California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee Records

Dates: 1970-2004

Collection number: See series descriptions.

Creator: Senate Governmental Organization Committee

Collection Size: 62 cubic feet

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: The Senate Governmental Organization Committee evolved from the Senate Governmental Efficiency Committee, and was renamed the Governmental Organization Committee by Senate Resolution 9 of the 1970 regular session. The committee heard legislation relating to judges and other public employment, horseracing, governmental organization and public lands, the National Guard, veterans, public gaming, and alcoholic beverages. The Senate Governmental Committee Records consist of approximately 62 cubic feet of textual records covering the period 1970-2004.

Physical location: California State Archives

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

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], Senate Governmental Organization Committee Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition History

The California State Archives acquired the Senate Governmental Organization Committee records according to state law.

Committee History

The Senate Governmental Organization Committee evolved from the Senate Governmental Efficiency Committee, which itself derived from the Senate Interim Committee on Governmental Reorganization. It was renamed the Governmental Organization Committee by Senate Resolution 9 of the 1970 regular session. It originally was comprised of 13 members, which was reduced to 11 in 1975, then to 9 in 1980. It was restored to 11 members in 1981, where it remained until 1999. Membership was increased to 12 senators in 1999-2000, and to 13 in 2001-2002, before being reduced again to 11 in 2005-2006, and to 10 in 2007-2008.

The original jurisdiction of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee was all legislation relating to judges and other public employment, horseracing, governmental organization and public lands, the National Guard, and veterans. Over time the committee's jurisdiction was expanded to include public gaming, alcoholic beverages, management of public safety emergencies and disaster response. It also lost jurisdiction over certain matters as other committees were created - the Senate Public Employees and Retirement Committee now deals with bills relating to state and local non-school public employees, and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over bills concerning veterans, military affairs, and armories.

The chairs of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee committee from 1970 and forward were as follows:

Sherman, Lewis F. (Rep), 1970

Way, Howard (Rep), 1970

Dills, Ralph C. (Dem), 1970-1998

Perata, Don (Dem), 1999-2000

Vincent, Edward (Dem), 2001-2004

Florez, Dean (Dem), 2005-2008 [present]

Scope and Content

The Senate Governmental Committee Records consist of approximately 62 cubic feet of textual records. The records cover the years 1970-2004, and are organized into five series: bill files, hearing files, staff reports, records of bills, and committee files. It is anticipated that the Archives will receive further records from the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, as it remains a functional standing committee in the California State Senate. Researchers should inquire with the reference archivist about recently received, unprocessed records of the committee.

The bill files consist of 56 cubic feet of textual records spanning the years 1970-2004. The majority of the bill files pertain to topics within the committee's jurisdiction - primarily horseracing; regulation of the alcoholic beverage industry; gambling establishments; Indian gaming; disaster response; public employees and their contracts; and the creation, abolition and reorganization of state agencies, boards, commissions and departments.

Of the various topics addressed within the committee bill files, the most controversial involve the regulation of gambling and gambling establishments, and of the alcoholic beverage industry. Typical correspondence on any bill which is seen as an expansion of gambling in any way entails letters of support from casinos, Indian tribes involved in gambling, and lobbyists in favor of expanded gambling; and letters of (often strong) opposition from anti-gambling groups, often with religious ties. In the area of alcoholic beverages, bills which are perceived as modifying the state's existing "tied-house" laws for the benefit of alcoholic beverage companies are accompanied by letters of support from those companies and lobbyists working for them, and (again, often strong) opposition letters from anti-alcohol groups, many of which are the same groups opposed to gambling.

A frequent topic addressed by the committee is the California State Lottery. There are several bills from both pro- and anti-Lottery forces within the legislature to either expand or reduce the scope of the Lottery, by either restricting or widening the range of games which it may conduct. There is substantial correspondence from individuals and organizations both supportive of, and opposed to, expansion of the Lottery in any way. There is also correspondence from the Lottery Commission itself. Several bills, in an effort to either (a) increase state funds from Lottery revenues that go to education, (b) increase the size of Lottery prizes in order to encourage more people to play, thus increasing education revenues, or both, proposed reducing the designated percentage of revenues the Lottery may use for administrative purposes. Two such bills heard in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee were Assembly Bill 201 (Bowen) of 1997-1998, and Senate Bill 329 (Perata) of 2003-2004. As expected, the strongest opposition to such proposals comes from the Lottery itself, with support coming from individuals and organizations lobbying on behalf of increased public education funding. Also included are two proposed constitutional amendments - one to eliminate the Lottery (SCA43 of 1991-1992) and one to ban all gambling in California (SCA29 of 1993-1994), neither of which passed.

The committee also addressed, in the early 1990s, the contentious issue of affirmative action. Prior to the passage of Proposition 209, which banned racial or gender preferences in all state programs, in 1996, at least two bills were proposed to effectively end race-based affirmative action - Senate Constitutional Amendment 10 (Kopp) and Senate Bill 938 (Campbell). Both bills were heard in the Governmental Organization Committee during the 1995-1996 session, but neither passed. These should be of interest to researchers documenting the politics of affirmative action in California.

Several bills address proposed Indian gaming compacts between Native American tribes and the governor. Others address Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) - labor contracts - between the state and public employee unions. Researchers looking into either Indian gaming or public employee unions will find this information useful.

Hearing files address many of the same areas as the bill files - alcoholic beverages and the "tied-house" laws, the reorganization of state government, horseracing, and access to employment and higher education for veterans. Additional topics include the licensing of professional astrologers, the issuance of bonds to fund the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, and state regulations requiring the installation of smoke detectors and flame-retardant roofs in public buildings. One topic of interest addressed was Proposition 13 of 1976, which would have legalized gambling on greyhound racing. Researchers should be aware that this is not the same initiative as Proposition 13 from 1978, which sharply reduced property tax rates throughout the state.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee

Horse racing

Alcoholic beverage industry

Gambling

Related Collections at the California State Archives

Assembly Governmental Organization Committee Records

Ralph C. Dills Papers

Oral History

Ralph C. Dills, Oral History Interview, conducted 1989 by Carlos Vasquez, Oral History Program, University of California, Los Angeles for the State Government Oral History Program available at the California State Archives and some other repositories.

Note to researchers

Researchers interested in this committee are advised to check the papers of its Chairs. Committee Chairs often kept materials relating to committee operations among their personal files. For Chair papers available at the California State Archives or other repositories, this information can be found in the committee history.

See LP Numbers below.

Series 1 Bill Files 1970-2010

Physical Description: 1,341 file folders

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session then numerically by bill number within legislative house.

Scope and Content Note

Most bill files include all or some of the following items: bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, press releases, newspaper clippings, correspondence and analyses of similar, usually prior, legislation. The most common bill topics include horseracing, alcoholic beverage restrictions (particularly the "tied-house" laws), gambling establishments, Indian gaming, public contracts, solid waste and recycling, and the reorganization, creation and abolition of state agencies, departments, boards and commissions. Other topics include economic development, infrastructure financing, enterprise zones, the state lottery, state surplus property, the conversion of former defense facilities, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for state employee unions.

Microfilm copies of bill files are available for the years 1970-1990 where indicated with MF before the LP number.

1970: SB29-SB1417; SCAs; SCRs; SJRs; SRs (10ff) MF LP167:19-28

1970: AB3-AB2536; ACAs; ACRs; AJRs (8ff) MF LP167:29-36

1971: SB20-SB1633; SCAs; SCRs; SJRs; SRs (4ff) MF LP167:37-40

1971: AB25-AB3079; ACAs; ACRs; AJRs (12ff) MF LP167:41-52

1972: SB8-SB1510; SCAs; SCRs; SJRs; SRs (16ff) MF LP167:54-61

1972: AB5-AB2373; ACAs; ACRs; AJRs (10ff) MF LP167:62-79

1973-1974: SB14-SB2449; SCAs; SCRs; SJRs; SRs (25ff) MF LP167:83-107

1973-1974: AB13-AB4484; ACAs; ACRs; AJRs (23ff) MF LP167:108-130

1975-1976: SB1-SB2150; SCAs; SCRs; SJRs; SRs (18ff) MF LP170:203-220

1975: SB3X (1ff) MF LP170:241

1975-1976: AB14-4524; ACAs; ACRs; AJR14 (20ff) MF LP170:221-240

1976: Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 1 (1ff) MF LP170:242

1977-1978: SB5-SB2180; SCA33; SCRs; SR40 (21ff) MF LP182:102-122

1977-1978: AB5-AB3787; ACAs; ACRs (22ff) MF LP183:1-22

1979-1980: SB11-SB1695 MF LP207:233-249

1979-1980: SB1707-SB2041; SCA7-SCA34; SCR23-SCR85;SR35-SR39 (21ff) MF LP208:1-6

1979-1980: AB3-AB3383; ACA22-ACA71; ACR12-ACR127 (14ff) MF LP208:7-20

1980-1984: Governor's Reorganization Plans of 1979-1981, 1984 (4ff) MF LP251:232-235

1981-1982: SB26-SB2097; SCR23-SCR73; SR16 (25ff) MF LP214:101-125

1981-1982: AB14-AB3799; ACR36-ACR122; AB11X (33ff) MF LP214:126-159

1983-1984: SB75-SB2036; SCA34; SCR32-SCR68; SB5X-SB15X (23ff) MF LP227:84-106

1983-1984: AB40-AB4053; ACR22-ACR74; AB3X-AB16X (28ff) MF LP227:107-134

1985-1986: SB4-SB2618; SCR19-SCR101; SJR12-SJR46 (23ff) MF LP251:183-206

1985-1986: AB23-AB4292; ACR33-ACR159; AJR8-AJR18 (22ff) MF LP251:210-231

1987-1988: SB14-SB2866; SCA39; SCR42-SCR86; SJR34-SJR38 (21ff) MF LP262:129-149

1987-1988: AB7-AB4699; ACA52-ACA63; ACR64-ACR127;AJR3-AJR77 (38ff) MF LP262:150-187

1989-1990: SB10-SB2910; SCR19-SCR78; SJR25-SJR53; SR52;SB12X-SB49X (20ff) MF LP203:183-202

1989-1990: AB4-AB4370; ACA20; ACR67-ACR141; AJR8-AJR22;AB4X-AB34X (38ff) MF LP203:203-241

1991-1992: SB8-SB2061; SCA43; SCR11-SCR83; SJR21-SJR48; SB17X-SB20X (46ff) LP388:1-46

1991-1992: AB2-AB3824; ACR1-ACR96; AJR21-AJR73 (57ff) LP388:47-103

1993-1994: SB29-SB2116; SCA12-SCA46; SCR 14-SCR56; SJR15-SJR49; SB12X (57ff) LP388:104-160

1993-1994: AB3-AB3821; ACR6-ACR139; AJR29-AJR92; AB2X (78ff) LP388:161-237

1995-1996: SB1-SB2168; SCA3-SCA39; SCR41-SCR63; SJR7-SJR35; SB9X; SB17XX-SB20XX (54ff) LP388:238-290

1995-1996: AB11-AB3502 (61ff) LP388:291-351

1997-1998: SB8-SB2189; SCA6-SCA30; SCR85; SJR20; SB2X- SB10X (43ff) LP388:352-394

1997-1998: AB3-AB2739; ACR43; AJR19-AJR72; AB2X-AB10X (48ff) LP388:395-442

1999-2000: SB27-SB2181; SCA4-SCA9; SJR3 (27ff) LP388:443-469

1999-2000: AB50-AB2936; AJR45-AJR46 (33ff) LP388:470-502

2001-2002: SB25-SB2063; SCA4-SCA7; SJR15-SJR48; SB82XX (33ff) LP388:503-535

2001-2002: AB31-AB2965; ACR18-ACR170; AJR8-AJR39; AB16X-AB69XX (35ff) LP388:536-569

2003-2004: SB9-SB1873; SCA1-SCA15; SCR10-SCR72; SJR6; SB5X (25ff) LP388:570-594

2003-2004: AB6-AB3096 (26ff) LP388:595-620

2005-2006: SB42-SB1824; SJR12-SJR29;SR20 (24 ff) LP388:711-734

2005-2006: AB42-AB3068; ACR129 (36 ff) LP388:735-770

2007-2008: SB26-SB1764; SCA6-SCA11;SJR22 (39 ff) LP388:771-809

2007-2008: AB230AB3075; AJR39 (42 ff) LP388:810-851

2009-2010: SB9-SB1486; SCA28; SCR62; SR49; SB4XX-SB16XX (37 ff) LP388:852-888

2009-2010: AB31-AB2794; ACR56; AB81XXX (44 ff) LP388:889-932

See Appendix A for LP Numbers

Series 2 Hearing Files 1973-1986

Physical Description: 106 file folders

Arrangement

Hearing files are arranged chronologically by date of hearing.

Scope and Content Note

Hearing files may consist of agendas, transcripts, audiotapes, and background information for regular session hearings, as well as interim hearings and select joint hearings. Audiotapes have been separated into a cold storage vault for preservation purposes. Separation sheets within the hearing files will alert the researcher to the existence of such tapes. Topics addressed in the hearing files include the "tied-house" restrictions on alcoholic beverage companies, the use of geothermal resources, licensing of professional astrologers, the issuance of seasonal and club liquor licenses, access to employment opportunities and higher education for veterans, gambling on greyhound dog racing, the proposed issuance of bonds for the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, horseracing, government reorganization, state employees, regulations requiring smoke detectors and flame-retardant roofs to be installed in all new public buildings, and urban unemployment.

For a chronological list of hearings, see Appendix A in Master Finding Aid at the California State Archives.

See Appendix B for LP Numbers

Series 3 Staff Reports 1974-1978

Physical Description: 11 file folders

Arrangement

Staff Reports are arranged chronologically by date of report.

Scope and Content Note

Staff reports consist of background reports published by the committee staff between 1974-1978. The reports concern a variety of topics typically addressed by the Governmental Organization committee, including solar energy, public gaming, and horseracing. Of particular interest to researchers will be a 1975 report examining the status of state lotteries around the country and considering the implications of passing such a lottery in California. (The California State Lottery was created in 1984, nine years after the issuance of this report.)

For a chronological list of reports, see Appendix B in Master Finding Aid at the California State Archives.

See Appendix C for LP Numbers

Series 4 Records of Bills 1972-1996

Physical Description: 22 file folders

Arrangement

Records of bills are arranged chronologically by date of file.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of files assembled by the committee staff, which variously list, for the years 1972 through 1996: meeting agendas, minutes, records of bills heard by the committee, roll call votes taken on legislation, reports of action taken, memos to the file clerk, dual referral letters from the Chair of the Senate Rules Committee to the Governmental Organization Committee Chair, and authorization letters.

For a chronological list of records of bills, see Appendix C in Master Finding Aid at the California State Archives.

LP388:708-710

Series 5 Committee Files 1976-1998

Physical Description: 3 file folders

Arrangement

Committee files are arranged chronologically by date of file.

Scope and Content Note

This series includes committee files and papers covering the years 1976 to 1998, and includes: Legislative Counsel opinions on pending legislation, authorization letters from the Chair of the Senate Rules Committee regarding the creation of subcommittees, schedules and notification letters for interim hearings, handwritten minutes of hearings by committee consultants, and memoranda to file clerks.