§ 8 [Tense Interchangeability Rule]

When the California Evidence Code uses words like "is" or "are," it also means "was," "were," "will be," or "will." The same goes the other way around. Tense does not change the meaning of the law.

This keeps the rules from having loopholes based on timing. A rule that says someone "is" required to do something applies whether that action happened in the past or will happen in the future.