Both houses of the Legislature have begun their review of the budget proposal unveiled by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in January.
The spending proposal includes the outline of a historic agreement reached by the governor and the statewide Education Coalition. The coalition, which includes CTA, negotiated an overall education budget that will boost school spending by nearly $2 billion for 2004-05, while protecting 2003-04 school appropriations against any further midyear reductions.
Two bills - one in each house - are carrying the governor's spending plan. The Assembly version is AB 1800 by Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza (D-Los Angeles). The Senate's version is SB 1095 by Sen. Wes Chesbro (D-Santa Rosa).
Each measure will be the subject of budget subcommittee hearings that will focus on both projected revenues and proposed spending. During the process, lawmakers will refine the plans.
The most concentrated period of work will take place after the governor's Department of Finance releases an updated spending plan built on more recent estimates of state revenues in mid-May. June 15 is the constitutional deadline for lawmakers to send a final spending plan to the governor.
To get the bill to that point, each house must first approve and then send its version to a two-house joint conference committee that is charged with melding the two versions into one bill.
The Constitution requires the governor to complete his work by June 30 so that the budget can take effect on the July 1 start of the new budget year.