OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

March 16, 2020

To the Members of the California State Senate and the California State

Assembly:

Our state, our nation, and our world are facing a challenge

unprecedented in modern times. The COVID-19 pandemic compels us all to

find new ways of coming together, even as we must also seek out new ways of

staying apart.

Recognizing the magnitude of this moment, on March 4, 2020, I

proclaimed a state of emergency in California. In so doing, I found that the

conditions set forth in Government Code, section 8558(b), had been met.

Moreover, I hereby find that the declared state of emergency constitutes a

state of emergency within the meaning of Article XIII B, section 3, subdivision (c),

paragraph (2) of the California Constitution.

The California Constitution generally provides-in Article IV, section 8,

subdivision (b), paragraph (2)-that "no bill may be passed or ultimately

become a statute" unless it has been "printed, distributed to the members, and

published on the Internet, in its final form, for at least 72 hours before the vote."

The Constitution further provides, however, that this 72-hour notice period "may

be waived" if the Governor submits to the Legislature "a written statement that

dispensing with this notice period for that bill is necessary to address a state of

emergency ... that has been declared by the Governor" within the meaning of

Article XIII B, section 3, subdivision (c), paragraph (2).

Today I write to you to state the obvious: we must rise to the challenge

facing our state with every tool at our disposal and without a second of delay.

We cannot hesitate to meet this moment.

GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM • SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • (916) 445-2841

the urgent business of our state.

Accordingly, I submit to you this written statement that, to address the

state of emergency I have declared, it is necessary to dispense with the 72-hour

notice period set forth in Article IV, section 8, subdivision (b), paragraph (2) of

the California Constitution, as to the following legislation:

AB 89

AB 117

SB 89

SB 117

In addition to addressing the state of emergency I proclaimed in

connection with COVID-19 on March 4, 2020, this legislation also addresses the

2018 Camp Fire, for which a state of emergency was proclaimed on November

8, 2018.

I look forward to working with you in the weeks, days nd hours ahead as

we conduct