In a sign of how much term limits are affecting the legislative process in California, freshman legislators have been appointed to chair four out of six key committees handling education and children’s issues – even though they had no prior experience as lawmakers in the state Capitol.
But lawmakers who were appointed to their posts within days of coming to the Legislature don’t appear daunted by their rise to the top of the legislative committee pyramid. In interviews with EdSource, they say their experience before coming to Sacramento qualifies them for the role of committee chair. Of the six, two are former teachers, two are former school board members, another was a community college president and two are former city council members.