5.1 Accessing the Text of a Bill

You may access the text of any Senate or Assembly bill that is before the legislature, or that was before the legislature in the last session. See section 5.7 for information on "Bill Tracking", section 5.8 for "Bill Searching" and section 5.9 for "Index of Bills". If you know the bill-id, then read on (See below under "Bill-ID" for a description bill-ids).

Amendment Annotations

Versions of Bill Text: There may be more than one version of the bill text. You will always find an "introduced" version. If the bill is amended, each amending action will result in a version of the bill. If the bill is sent to the governor, you will see an "enrolled" version of the bill. If the bill is enacted, you will find a "chaptered" version of the bill.; The text of the bill may include annotations indicating text that is added or deleted. If the bill changes existing law then the introduced version may have those annotations -- indicating additions or deletions with respect to existing law.; Each time the bill is amended, text previously annotated as "Deleted" is removed and the annotations indicating previously added text are removed -- then the "plain text" version of the bill is amended and new annotations are inserted indicating what was added or deleted since the last version.; When passed by both houses, the amendment annotations are removed, producing the "enrolled" version. When a bill is an "appropriation" bill, the Governor may veto selected appropriation lines and then sign the bill. The final version of the bill-text is the "chaptered" version which is the enrolled version less any line- item vetoes.
Representations of Bills Text in Computer Files: Documents are archived in computer files in two different formats: "ASCII Text" files and "Microsoft Write" files.; When looking at an "ASCII text" file containing amended bill text (files with extensions of ".TXT"), you will see the two symbols "{+" indicating the start of text that was added and "+}" indicating the end of that added text. You will see the two symbols "{-" indicating the start of text that was deleted and "-}" indicating the end of the deleted text. There are word processing macros available for Word Perfect and Microsoft Word that will convert that notation into conventional italicised and under-scored text.; When looking at a Microsoft "Write" file containing amended bill text (files with extensions of ".WRI") you will see the added text in italics and the deleted text underlined.

Bill-ID

At the time a bill is introduced it is assigned a unique bill-id. The bill-id is in two parts: the bill-type and the bill number.

The bill-type is one of the following codes.

	sb          Senate Bill
	sca         Senate Constitutional Amendment
	scr         Senate Concurrent Resolution
	sjr         Senate Joint Resolution
	sr          Senate Resolution
	ab          Assembly Bill
	aca         Assembly Constitutional Amendment
	acr         Assembly Concurrent Resolution
	ajr         Assembly Joint Resolution
	hr          Assembly House Resolution

If the bill is introduced in an extroardinary session, then the bill-type will have a suffix denoting which extraordinary session. Examples:

	sbx1        Senate Bill, First Extraordinary Session
	abx2        Assembly Bill, Second Extraordinary Session

The bill number is a one to four digit serial number starting from 1 for each bill type. Examples of complete bill-ids:

sb 1, ab 1004, sr 5, hr 8, scrx1 5

When referencing bill information by filename, the numeric portion is often expanded to 4-digits with leading zeros. Examples:

sb0001.TXT, ab1004.WRI, sr0005.TXT

Word Processor Macros

You can use e-mail to obtain the word-processing macros which will convert the "{+" and "{-" annotations in the bill text files into italics and underlines.

There are separate macros for each of:

Microsoft Word 2.0

Microsoft Word 6.0

Word Perfect 5.2

Word Perfect 6.0

To acquire those macros send mail as follows:

Mail to: senate-news@sen.ca.gov

Subject: doesn't matter

Text:

get access macros WDMACRO2.TXT

get access macros WDMACRO6.TXT

get access macros WPMACRO.TXT

get access macros WPMACRO6.TXT

Accessing The Documents

Depending on the method you use to access the bill text documents, you may not be able to use the Microsoft "Write" versions (files with extensions of ".WRI"). The ".WRI" files are stored as "binary" files and some access methods will not transfer "binary" files and retain their original content unchanged.

If you are accessing via e-mail, it is virtually certain that you will not receive a ".WRI" format file in a form that is useful. Some Gopher facilities also will not transfer "binary" files correctly.

If you must use the ".TXT" versions of the files and wish to convert them to conventional word-processing format, we have provided "macros" for Word Perfect and Microsoft Word which you may use to convert the "{+" and "{-" annotations into italicised and underscored text. See "Accessing the Macros" below.

WWW (World Wide Web)

Direct your Web Browser to: URL: http:://www.sen.ca.gov/

Select: Search Bill Text

Then under "Search by Bill Number" enter the bill_id in the blank labelled "Enter the bill number to search for ", and then click on "Search for Bill Number".

Gopher

"Point" your Gopher to: Gopher gopher.sen.ca.gov

If your Gopher does not have an option to point it to particular domain references, then locate the gopher menu option "Gopher Jewels" (Nearly every Gopher is set up to reference "Gopher Jewels" by some means). Then follow the gopher menus via "Government" and "State Government" to "California Legislature Gopher".

From the Senate Root Menu,

Select: Access bill text, analyses, codes, etc./

Then Select: Type in a Bill-ID (e.g. SB_1234) for list from 1995..1996 session

OR Select: Type in a Bill-ID (e.g. SB_1234) for list from 1993..1994 session

You will be promted to type in a billid. Just type in the bill-id as described in the section above entitled "Bill ID", however, it is not necessary to include a suffix on the bill-type to denote an extraordinary session

Example: SB 1

The result is an acknowledment menu similar to:

1. Senate bill 1 (current session)/

2. Senate bill 1 (95/96 extraordinary session 1)/

3. Senate bill 1 (95/96 extraordinary session 2)/

Select one of those to see a menu presenting all of the documents available for the bill. Sample:

Senate bill 1 (95/96 extraordinary session)

1. Analysis, SBX1 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 1995-02-14..

2. Analysis, SBX1 1, Sen. Floor Session as of 1995-01-25 (Text) [6KB]

3. Analysis, SBX1 1, Sen. Transp. & Pub.Safety Mgt. committee as of 1..

4. History, SBX1 1, as of 1995-03-24 (Text)

5. Status, SBX1 1, as of 1995-03-29 (Text)

6. Text, SBX1 1, Current Amended 1995-01-25 (Text) [5KB]

7. Text, SBX1 1, Current Amended 1995-02-23 (Text) [5KB]

8. Text, SBX1 1, Current Amended 1995-03-23 (Text) [5KB]

9. Text, SBX1 1, Introduced 1995-01-23 (Text) [4KB]

10. Vote, SBX1 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 1995-02-15 (Te..

11. Vote, SBX1 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 8) as of 995-01-26 (Text..

12. Vote, SBX1 1, Sen. Transp. & Pub.Safety Mgt. committee as of 1995-..

13. Analysis, SBX1 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 1995-02-14 ..

14. Analysis, SBX1 1, Sen. Floor Session as of 1995-01-25 (MS Write) [7..

15. Analysis, SBX1 1, Sen. Transp. & Pub.Safety Mgt. committee as of 19..

16. History, SBX1 1, as of 1995-03-24 (MS Write)

17. Status, SBX1 1, as of 1995-03-29 (MS Write)

18. Text, SBX1 1, Amended 1995-01-25 (MS Write) [5KB]

19. Text, SBX1 1, Amended 1995-02-23 (MS Write) [5KB]

20. Text, SBX1 1, Amended 1995-03-23 (MS Write) [6KB]

21. Text, SBX1 1, Introduced 1995-01-23 (MS Write) [5KB]

22. Vote, SBX1 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 1995-02-15 (MS ..

23. Vote, SBX1 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 8) as of 1995-01-26 (MS Wr..

24. Vote, SBX1 1, Sen. Transp. & Pub.Safety Mgt. committee as of 1995-0..

E-Mail

Send your request for information via E-Mail as follows (you my include any number of requests in a single e-mail):

Mail to: senate-news@sen.ca.gov 
Subject: doesn't matter 
   Text: dir bill SB_1

Please Note:

The bill-id as used for access by e-mail must include an under-line symbol between the bill-type and number, as shown in the example above. For prior session, prefix the billid with the letter "p". For extraordinary sessions, suffix the bill-type with "x1" or "x2", etc.

Examples:: dir bill SB_1 --current session SB 1; dir bill SBX1_1 --current first extraordinary session SB 1; dir bill PSB_1 --prior session SB 1; dir bill PSBX1_1 --prior first extraordinary session SB 1

You will receive by e-mail the list of available document files or the indicated bill.

Example:

	============================================================
	(0001) dir bill psb_1
	       INFO DIR bill psb_1
	Files available for bill psb_1
	Filename       Size   Description
	---------------------------------------------------------
	AACLGOV1.TXT  17.5K  Analysis, SB 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 199
	AACLGOV1.WRI  21.0K Analysis, SB 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 1993
	AACREVT1.TXT  14.0K  Analysis, SB 1, Asm. Rev. & Tax. committee as of1993-07-
	AACREVT1.WRI  17.5K Analysis, SB 1, Asm. Rev. & Tax. committee as of 1993-07-1
	AAFLOOR.TXT    7.0K  Analysis, SB 1, Asm. Floor Session as of 1993-07-15 (Text
	AAFLOOR.WRI   10.5K Analysis, SB 1, Asm. Floor Session as of 1993-07-15 (MS Wr
	AVCLGOV1.TXT   3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 1993-06
	AVCLGOV1.WRI   3.5K Vote, SB 1, Asm. Local Government committee as of 1993-06-
	AVCREVT1.TXT   3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Asm. Rev. & Tax. committee as of 1993-07-12 (
	AVCREVT1.WRI   3.5K Vote, SB 1, Asm. Rev. & Tax. committee as of 1993-07-12 (M
	AVFLOOR.TXT    3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Asm. Floor Session (Motion 3205) as of 1993-0
	AVFLOOR.WRI    3.5K Vote, SB 1, Asm. Floor Session (Motion 3205) as of 1993-07
	CURRVER.TXT    7.0K  Text, SB 1, Introduced 1992-12-07 (Text) [%sz]
	CURRVER.WRI   10.5K Text, SB 1, Introduced 1992-12-07 (MS Write) [%sz]
	HISTORY.TXT    3.5K  History, SB 1, as of 1995-03-19 (Text)
	HISTORY.WRI    3.5K History, SB 1, as of 1995-03-19 (MS Write)
	INTROVER.TXT   7.0K  Text, SB 1, Introduced 1992-12-07 (Text) [%sz]
	INTROVER.WRI  10.5K Text, SB 1, Introduced 1992-12-07 (MS Write) [%sz]
	SACREVTA.TXT  10.5K  Analysis, SB 1, Sen. Rev. & Tax. committee as of 1993-04-
	SACREVTA.WRI  10.5K Analysis, SB 1, Sen. Rev. & Tax. committee as of 1993-04-0
	SAFLOOR.TXT   28.0K  Analysis, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session as of 1993-04-27 (Text
	SAFLOOR.WRI   28.0K Analysis, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session as of 1993-04-27 (MS Wr
	STATUS.TXT     3.5K  Status, SB 1, as of 1995-03-19 (Text)
	STATUS.WRI     3.5K Status, SB 1, as of 1995-03-19 (MS Write)
	SVCREVTA.TXT   3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Sen. Rev. & Tax. committee as of 1993-04-21 (
	SVCREVTA.WRI   3.5K Vote, SB 1, Sen. Rev. & Tax. committee as of 1993-04-21 (M
	SVFLOOR.TXT    3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3199) as of 1993-0
	SVFLOOR.WRI    3.5K Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3199) as of 1993-01
	SVFLOOR2.TXT   3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3200) as of 1993-0
	SVFLOOR2.WRI   3.5K Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3200) as of 1993-01
	SVFLOOR3.TXT   3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3202) as of 1993-0
	SVFLOOR3.WRI   3.5K Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3202) as of 1993-01
	SVFLOOR4.TXT   3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3205) as of 1993-0
	SVFLOOR4.WRI   3.5K Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3205) as of 1993-05
	SVFLOOR5.TXT   3.5K  Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3209) as of 1993-0
	SVFLOOR5.WRI   3.5K Vote, SB 1, Sen. Floor Session (Motion 3209) as of 1993-09
	T921207.TXT    7.0K  Text, SB 1, Introduced 1992-12-07 (Text) [%sz]
	T921207.WRI   10.5K Text, SB 1, Introduced 1992-12-07 (MS Write) [%sz]
	T930401.TXT   10.5K  Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-04-01 (Text) [%sz]
	T930401.WRI   10.5K Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-04-01 (MS Write) [%sz]
	T930427.TXT   10.5K  Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-04-27 (Text) [%sz]
	T930427.WRI   10.5K Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-04-27 (MS Write) [%sz]
	T930614.TXT   10.5K  Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-06-14 (Text) [%sz]
	T930614.WRI   10.5K Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-06-14 (MS Write) [%sz]
	T930714.TXT   10.5K  Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-07-14 (Text) [%sz]
	T930714.WRI   14.0K Text, SB 1, Amended 1993-07-14 (MS Write) [%sz]
	T930910.TXT   10.5K  Text, SB 1, Current Amended 1993-09-10 (Text) [%sz]
	T930910.WRI   10.5K Text, SB 1, Current Amended 1993-09-10 (MS Write) [%sz]
	VETO.TXT       3.5K  Veto Message, SB 1 (Text)
	VETO.WRI       7.0K Veto Message, SB 1 (MS Write)
	50 files found.
	============================================================

A second e-mail message can then be sent requesting specific document files.

Example:

Mail to: senate-news@sen.ca.gov

Subject: doesn't matter

Text:

get bill PSB_1 T930910.TXT

Please Note: The dates in the filenames (eg., 930910) are used to identify the amended versions of bill text files. You may not need to bother with getting the directory of filenames. You can simply send mail as follows to retrieve predictably named document files:

Example:

Mail to: senate-news@sen.ca.gov

Subject: doesn't matter

Text:

get bill PSB_1 CURRVER.TXT

get bill PSB_1 INTROVER.TXT

get bill PSB_1 HISTORY.TXT

get bill PSB_1 SAFLOOR.TXT

Send Comments or Questions via E-Mail to: News.Editor@sen.ca.gov