-- Last revised 6/2/14 --

History and Purpose

    The California Law Revision Commission was created in 1953 as the permanent successor to the Code Commission and given responsibility for the continuing substantive review of California statutory and decisional law. The Commission studies the law in order to discover defects and anachronisms and recommends legislation to make needed reforms. (See the Commission's governing statute.)

    The Commission assists the Legislature in keeping the law up to date by:

• Intensively studying complex and sometimes controversial subjects
• Identifying major policy questions for legislative attention
• Gathering the views of interested persons and organizations
• Drafting recommended legislation for legislative consideration

    The Commission's efforts enable the Legislature to focus on significant policy questions in a recommendation rather than on the technical issues which can be resolved in the process of preparing background studies, working out intricate legal problems, and drafting implementing legislation. The Commission thus helps the Legislature accomplish needed reforms that otherwise might not be made because of the heavy demands on legislative time. In some cases, the Commission's report demonstrates that no new legislation on a particular topic is needed, thus relieving the Legislature of the need to study the topic.

    The Commission consists of:

• A Member of the Senate appointed by the Rules Committee
• A Member of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker
• Seven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate
• The Legislative Counsel, who is an ex officio member

    The Commission may study only topics that the Legislature has authorized. The Commission maintains a calendar topics authorized for study.