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Board adopts written guidelines for taking positions on legislation
Summary
The California State Board of Equalization voted unanimously April 20 to adopt written governance guidelines requiring members to submit a memorandum when requesting board support or opposition to bills, to limit use of so‑called "spot bills," and to route requests through the executive director.
The Board of Equalization on April 20 unanimously approved a written change to its governance policy that requires a board member seeking Board support or opposition to a bill to submit a memorandum explaining how the measure relates to the BOE's jurisdiction, its policy purpose, fiscal and administrative impacts, and to include links to the bill text and any available analyses.
The change is intended to standardize how members bring legislative items to the Board. Vice Chair Sherry Lieber, who presented the proposal, said the memorandum will help the Board “assess whether a bill is germane to BOE’s mission” and reduce rushed or poorly documented requests. She also inserted a provision that “spot bills should not be included for board support or opposition.”
Board members said they sought a practical process that protects transparency while allowing timely response when disasters or other urgent events require state action. The policy requires members to submit requests to the chair through the executive director; the chair may place the item on an upcoming agenda. Member Larry Schaeffer seconded the motion and the Board approved the change by roll call vote with all members present voting aye.
Board counsel and the executive director clarified how the new rule interacts with staff duties: the Board may ask the executive director to track bills and notify members if a bill has been substantially amended, but individual members cannot direct analysts directly (members must route requests through the executive director to avoid running afoul of Government Code restrictions on board members directing staff). The Board also discussed creating a two‑member work group to study bills between meetings; Vice Chair Lieber said she supports agendizing such a work item but cautioned against work groups that reduce transparency.
The adopted text (placed as a legislative subsection of the governance policy) establishes the memorandum requirements, retains a prohibition on spot bills, and removes a proposed per‑member numeric limit on the number of bills a member may bring to a meeting. The policy change takes effect immediately; the executive director will update the online governance document at a later date.
Members and executive staff said the written standard should make it easier for the Board to make informed decisions and to ensure legal compliance and fiscal awareness when the Board’s name is used on letters of support or opposition.
The Board voted to approve the change; the motion passed by unanimous roll call vote.
Ending — The Board directed staff to place a placeholder on the June agenda to consider forming a legislative work group and to circulate the revised governance text electronically after the meeting.
