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ASSEMBLY BILL 169 (HARRIS – 1986)

CHAPTER 1334, STATUTES OF 1986, AB 169

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The California Civil Discovery Act was enacted in 1986 following legislative passage of Assembly Bill 169  (See Exhibit #1g)  Assembly member Elihu M. Harris introduced Assembly Bill 169 on January 2, 1985, which embodied the work product and recommendations of the State Bar’s Commission on Discovery.  (See Exhibits #1a, #3, and #7)  One purpose of Assembly Bill 169 was to bring California law closer to conformity to the discovery provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.  (See Exhibit #7b, page 9)

After its introduction, the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary considered the policy issues raised by the bill.  (See Exhibits #2, #3 and #7)  The bill was amended five times during the legislative process.  (See Exhibits #1b through #1f and #2)  Assembly Bill 169 was approved by the Legislature on August 29, 1986, signed by Governor George Deukmejian on September 28, 1986, and recorded by the Secretary of State on September 29, 1986 as Chapter 1334 of the Statutes of 1986.  (See Exhibits #1g and #2)

The Senate Committee on Judiciary analysis described Assembly Bill 169 as follows:

According to proponents, this bill and its companion - AB 1334 (Harris) - would thoroughly rewrite the California civil discovery law.  Existing statutes would be repealed and replaced by new ones.  In general, the revisions would bring California closer to the discovery provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(Exhibit #7b, page 9)