Assemblyman Offers Solutions For State Budget, California Economy

Assemblyman Brian Nestande has introduced a measure that would decrease the amount of new laws created by Sacramento each year.

“Businesses and hard working families of California are overburdened by new regulations and laws that come out of Sacramento every year,’’ Nestande said.

The Palm Desert-based Republican said that while not all of the more than 4,000 pieces of legislation introduced annually become law, “every bill costs an estimated $20,000 to go through the legislative process.’’

He said by lowering the bill limit, the state can save up to $24 million.

“It’s a win-win proposition,’’ Nestande said.

Members of the California state legislature can introduce a maximum of 40 bills every two-year legislative cycle and House Resolution 5 would decrease the maximum to 30.

According to the state’s legislative website, 733 bills were singed into law last year.

The lawmaker also introduced Assembly Bill 271, which would give defendants in a class action lawsuit the same rights as a plaintiff.

"This measure will level the playing field for class action defendants and bring California into line with other states and with federal law," Nestande said.

He claims the bill will also help California's economy “recover by making the state a more attractive place to do business and thus bring much needed jobs to the state."

Kimberly Stone, president of the California Civil Justice Association of California, which is a sponsor of the measure, said the state is among the worst legal climates in the country.

“That’s a major reason businesses are reluctant to locate or expand operations here,’’ Stone said.

The bill gives the defendant the right to appeal the decision of whether or not to certify the class and allow the lawsuit to proceed. Federal law already allows both parties to immediately appeal a class certification, according to Nestande.