And they were rewarded when SB 1507 was signed by Governor Pete Wilson in September 1996. All librarians, and especially those serving the legal community, recognize the importance of comprehensive and permanent access to materials documenting the legislative history of statutes and regulations.
Legislative histories are critically important in determining and interpreting legislative intent.
Prior to the enactment of SB 1507, access to these California state materials was haphazard. No comprehensive standard to ensure the preservation of legislative committee and floor bill files and agency rulemaking files existed. This created a barrier to the public's access to this important body of information, leaving researchers, members of the legal community, and others at a loss in interpreting how a statute or regulation should be applied. Chapter 928 fulfills the spirit of the California Public Records Act, and serves as a model law for other states to enact. Thank you very much for your consideration in this matter.