Capitol Alert: AM Alert: California legislators now back at the Capitol

VIDEO: Dan Walters welcomes California's legislators to town and names a few issues they'll be mulling.

They're back: The Legislature meets today for the first time this year, the Assembly at noon and the Senate at 2 p.m.

An interfaith prayer service at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament marks the occasion. Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto will host the service, which the Interfaith Council of Sacramento is sponsoring. Find it at 1017 11th St., north of the Capitol, starting at 9 a.m.

As for the rest of the week, Capitol junkies no doubt know that Gov. Jerry Brown must unveil his proposed budget by Thursday. As Kevin Yamamura reported in this story late last month, the Democratic governor wants to overhaul the way that the state funds its schools. Be on the lookout for more details on how he would give K-12 districts more control over spending funds plus direct more money to poorer students and English learners.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have until Jan. 25 to submit bill requests to the Legislative Counsel's Office in advance of their Feb. 22 deadline for introducing measures.

There promises to be no shortage of legislative proposals, especially those ripped from the headlines. As Jim Sanders reported last week, several legislators are already vowing to change state law so the overturning of a rape conviction because the victim was not married won't happen again.

Then there's the Connecticut school massacre. Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, touts her Assembly Bill 48, which would regulate ammunition, at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. at the Elihu M. Harris State Building in Oakland. Joining her will be first-term Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, and several local and education officials.

At last count, Assembly members had already introduced 52 bills, while members of the Senate had introduced 55. That doesn't include the proposed resolutions and constitutional amendments. Expect the numbers to rise -- and soon.