Committee Session
State Capitol
Sacramento, California |
The Legislative Analyst is a non partisan office responsible
for fiscal analysis of all legislation for both the Assembly and Senate.
Although primarily responsible for fiscal issues, the Legislative Analyst's
Office (LAO) also emphasizes policy and program issues. The LAO's report
encompasses both fiscal and policy issues since there are no policy consultants
nor any other written analysis of legislation within the Model Legislature/Court
Program.
Assistant Legislative Analysts (ALAs) generally are assigned
a committee and are responsible for analysis of all bills assigned to
that committee. The ALAs give their analysis during committee and on
the floors of both houses as well as presenting their written report
in Sacramento.
The function of the ALAs is to serve as the impartial
"expert" on the policy and fiscal issues of the legislation.
Their function is different from the bill proponent or lobbyists, in
that they should have no bias against or in favor of the legislation.
Due to the fact that many legislators (both model and real) do not have
enough time to familiarize themselves with the bills, the Analyst's
job is to briefly and concisely inform them on the fiscal and policy
issues.
Specific responsibilities:
- Prepare and write analysis of the bills in your committee
(done at T&E 2). This involves preparing a written analysis. This
analysis includes determining the legislative intent of the bill or
resolution, identifying the major issues of the bills both pro and
con, determining the fiscal impact of the bill to the State (i.e.,
how much money the bill costs or how much money the bill will raise.)
- Give an oral presentation of your bill analysis to
Committee. These speeches in committee summarize your written analysis.
You will need to be prepared to answer questions from the Senators
and Assembly members in Committee.
- Give an oral presentation on the floors of the Senate
and Assembly.
- If the bill you analyze makes it out of committee,
you will make a speech similar to the one made in the committee before
the Assembly and/or Senate.
- Monitor the floors of both houses for votes and speeches.
Keep other Analysts informed of when their bills are coming up.
- Meet with Assembly members/Senators, Lobbyists and
other officers to discuss your findings.
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