Description
This collection contains the records of the California State Assembly Local Government Committee and its predecessor, the
Municipal and County Government Committee. They reflect the activity of the committees in overseeing legislation and other
matters affecting California's local governments, including counties, cities, local agency formation committee, water districts,
and other special districts. The records cover the years, 1940-2014, with the bulk from 1969-2014. They are comprised of bill
files, hearing files, subject files, correspondence files, legislative counsel opinion files, and court decisions files.
Background
Since the California legislature was first organized, there has been an Assembly committee concerned with the affairs of local
governments. The earliest committee, the Assembly Counties and County Boundaries, focused the boundaries and divisions of
counties and the salaries of county officials. By the 1880s, the Assembly added the Assembly County and Township Committee
and the Municipal Corporations Committee. The Counties and County Boundaries and the County and Township Government Committees
ceased operation after 1911. Apparently to replace both, the Assembly created the County Government Committee in 1913. In
the same year, a Committee on Libraries to review matters concerning local libraries was established. The Municipal Corporations
Committee, the County Government Committee and the Libraries Committee continued to operate until 1943 when the Assembly formed
the Municipal and County Government Committee in their places. It was “assigned the subject matter in the Government Code
relating to the government of cities, counties, cities and counties, districts, and other political subdivisions of the state,
uncodified laws relating there to, and other matters relating to municipal and county government” (HR438, July 11, 1968, Assembly
Journal, p. 5709).
Restrictions
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult California State Archives staff. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, as the owner of the physical
items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication
of materials from the California State Archives collections.
Availability
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.