The California Code refers to the collection of statutes enacted by the California State Legislature, which, alongside uncodified acts, forms the general statutory law of California. These codes are organized into 29 subject matter divisions, such as the Penal Code, the Civil Code, and the Vehicle Code. The official versions of these codes are maintained by the California Office of Legislative Counsel.
Here’s a breakdown of what constitutes the California Code:
1. California Statutes:
- Enacted by the Legislature: The California State Legislature, consisting of the Assembly and Senate, is responsible for creating laws, which are then codified into the California Codes.
- Organized by Subject: The codes are divided into 29 subject matter divisions, covering areas like criminal law (Penal Code), civil law (Civil Code), and vehicle regulations (Vehicle Code), among others.
- Official Publication: The Legislative Counsel is the official publisher of the California Codes.
2. California Code of Regulations:
- Administrative Regulations:The California Code of Regulations (CCR) contains the official compilation of state agency regulations.
- OAL Oversight:The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) is responsible for publishing and maintaining the CCR.
- Weekly Updates:OAL updates both the hard-copy and online versions of the CCR weekly to reflect new, amended, or repealed regulations.
3. Other Important Components:
- Case Law:Judicial decisions interpreting the California Codes and the CCR also play a crucial role in the legal landscape.
- Building Standards:The California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the CCR) includes standards from national model codes, adaptations of those codes for California, and unique California amendments.
In essence, the California Code encompasses the statutory law passed by the Legislature, regulations adopted by state agencies, and the interpretations of those laws by the courts.
The Penal Code of California forms the basis for the application of most criminal law, criminal procedure, penal institutions, and the execution of sentences, among other things, in the American state of California. It was originally enacted in 1872 as one of the original four California Codes, and has been substantially amended and revised since then.
The Civil Code of California is a collection of statutes for the State of California. The code is made up of statutes which govern the general obligations and rights of persons within the jurisdiction of California. It was based on a civil code originally prepared by David Dudley Field II in 1865 for the state of New York (but which was never enacted in that state). It is one of the 29 California Codes and was among the first four enacted in 1872.
The California Vehicle Code, informally referred to as the Veh. Code or the CVC, is a legal code which contains almost all statutes relating to the operation, ownership and registration of vehicles (including bicycles and even animals when riding on a public roadway) in the state of California in the United States. It is one of the 29 California Codes enacted by the California State Legislature.
The California Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC) (referenced in statute by its original name, the Legislative Counsel Bureau) was founded in 1913 and is a nonpartisan public agency that drafts legislative proposals, prepares legal opinions, and provides other confidential legal services to the Legislature and certain other California agencies and offices. The OLC also provides computer services, data networking, customer support, and related technology services to the Legislature. This includes hosting the California Legislative Information Website where the official versions of legislative measures, statutes contained within the Codes of California, the California Constitution, various legislative publications, and other resources, are published. The head of the office, known as the Legislative Counsel of California, is appointed by a vote of the Legislature.