 |
INITIATIVE WATCH |
|
INITIATIVE WATCH |
The following measures failed to qualify for the ballot
(tip: to search the words on this page, use the "find"
command (command-f) in your browser.)
|
Legalized Gambling.
Official Summary: Legalizes Las Vegas and Atlantic City type gambling for period of 28 years at two locations only, California City in Kern County and an Indian reservation to be selected by majority vote of all California tribes recognized by the federal government. Permits gambling presently prohibited including slot machines and various other banked games. Creates three-member state commission to supervise gaming activities, including the issuance of permits. Upon expiration of 28 years, Legislature may: further extend experimental program; extend legalized gambling to all counties and Indian tribes; or eliminate gambling in its entirety. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure could result in annual revenues to the state and local governments potentially in the tens of millions of dollars from fees and taxes associated with Las Vegas- and Atlantic City-type operations and other related economic activity. |
|
Lawful Marriage in California.
Official Summary: Amends constitution to state that two people of the same sex may lawfully marry in California. Provides that such a marriage would be subject to provisions of California law applicable to other marriages. Amendment does not require any church, religion or religious organization to perform any marriage ceremony. Supersedes any California law that prohibits legal marriage between two people of the same sex who meet the legal requirements applicable to other married persons. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in unknown additional costs and unknown net increase or decrease in revenues. |
|
Cal-Vet Loan Program Audit.
Official Summary: Amends statutes and Constitution to require certified audit of Cal-Vet Loan Program by February 1, 2001, and every three years thereafter. Subjects state employees and others to criminal prosecution and, upon conviction, to forfeiture of employment, public office, and retirement benefits if, since 1982 or 1975, they knew or should have known of asserted wrongful use of Cal-Vet Program money. Requires commencement of criminal prosecutions and of civil actions to correct errors discovered in an audit and to recover money that is found to have been wrongly diverted. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments. Measure would have an unknown but potentially significant fiscal effect on state government by providing, based primarily upon the results of an audit, for the transfer of about $230 million to a reserve fund and by potentially resulting in tens of millions of dollars in additional costs. Some of these state costs would be one-time in nature and others would be ongoing. |
|
Elections. Reapportionment.
Official Summary: Provides that districts
for election of Congress, State Senate and Assembly, and Board of Equalization shall
be drawn by the Secretary of State based solely upon geographical compactness and
population determined by census divisions designated by the federal Census Bureau.
Provides that the population of each district for Congress, each district for State
Senate and Assembly, and each district for Board of Equalization shall not vary more
than 1% from the average population of all districts of that type. Districts shall
be drawn without regard to party registration, voting history, race, sex, or national
origin. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal
impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in costs to the
State, probably up to several hundred thousand dollars once each decade, for the
Secretary of State to establish the boundaries. This initiative would also result
in unknown, but probably minor, savings to county governments by repealing the mandate
that they compile and submit specified electoral data to the Legisature once each
decade. |
|
Drug Treatment Diversion Program.
Official Summary: Requires drug treatment
program and probation for certain non-violent drug possession offenses and similar
parole violations not including sale, production or manufacture. Permits court to
impose additional conditions of probation but not incarceration. Specifies procedures
for determining probation or parole violation and consequences. Authorizes dismissal
of charges upon successful completion of treatment but requires disclosure of arrest
and conviction to law enforcement and as necessary for candidates, peace officers,
licensure, contracting with State Lottery, jury service. Requires studies of measure's
effectiveness. Appropriates state funds and uses forfeited assets for drug treatment
program. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal
impact on state and local governments: This measure is likely to result in net savings
to the state that probably range between $100 million and $150 million annually for
lower costs for prison operations with a one-time avoidance of capital outlay costs
of between $475 million and $575 million for prison construction. Counties would
probably experience net savings of about $50 million annually due primarily to a
lower jail population. This measure would also likely result in the transfer to a
state trust fund, and the subsequent reallocation to counties, of as much as $71
million annually in asset forfeiture proceeds. About $10 million in asset forfeiture
proceeds could be transferred from the state and as much as $61 million could be
diverted from counties, cities, special districts, and school districts.
|
|
Civil Rights. Taxes for Higher
Education
Official Summary: Revises California Constitution to restore affirmative action programs and preferences for historical victims of racism or sexism in the operation of public education and public contracting. Creates a 1.5% tax on retail sales to establish "The Student Higher Education Trust Fund." Half of the Fund will be used to pay for all admission and student related fees for all California residents at California public colleges. The other half of the Fund will go to the California Superintendent of Public Instruction to create college-bound programs for poor children. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: If passed, there would be an annual increase in retail sales taxes of about 6 billion dollars to be used for higher education and social services programs. The measure would result in significant increases in state capital costs for constructing public higher education facilities as well as increases in state and local costs of potentially tens of millions of dollars per year to implement preferential contracting programs. |
|
Education. Public School Funding
Increase to At Least National Average. Additional College, University Funding. Taxes.
Official Summary: Increases funding for public
schools to at least the national average for per pupil expenditures, phased in over
five years, adjusted for inflation. New funds to be used for specified uses including
class size reduction, core curriculum standards, textbooks, teacher salary and training,
fiscal accountability. Provides $600 million annual additional funding for state
universities and colleges, phased in over five years, adjusted for inflation and
enrollment. Requires Legislature to pass necessary taxes by majority vote. Prohibits
additional property taxes for this purpose. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst
and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure
would result in tax increases reaching between approximately $4 billion and $4.8
billion annually by 2005-06. Of this approximate amount, between $3.3 billion and
$4.1 billion would go to the public schools, with the remainder going to the state's
public college and university systems.
|
|
Expansion of Constitutional
Definition of a Person.
Official Summary: Amends the State Constitution to provide that the definition of a person includes an unborn person. Defines unborn person to mean an unborn child from the time of fertilization of the ovum until live birth. Further provides that an unborn person has all of the same rights and protections afforded to any person under the California Constitution. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net fiscal impact of this measure on state and local expenditures and revenues is unknown. |
|
Elections. Use of Internet
for Voter Registration and Voting.
Official Summary: Authorizes use of Internet for electronic voter registration and for casting ballots in direct primary elections, statewide general elections, special elections, and other public elections. Specifies standards for Internet voting systems. Requires Secretary of State to test and certify voting systems, to accredit means of identifying and authenticating voters, to protect voter confidentiality, and to adopt rules and regulations governing Internet voting procedures. Requires counties to offer Internet option to all voters. Criminalizes efforts to interfere with Internet election system; specifies penalties. Preserves traditional voting methods. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: One-time costs to local governments, probably several tens of millions of dollars statewide, for initial establishment of Internet registration and voting systems, with ongoing annual costs probably ranging from the millions of dollars to the low tens of millions of dollars statewide. One-time costs to State of developing standards for Internet voting and registration and of implementing other provisions, probably in the tens of millions of dollars, with ongoing implementation costs that could reach several million dollars annually. State costs could be partly offset to the extent that fees are charged to local governments or private vendors seeking accreditation of Internet election systems. |
|
Restricting Application of
Three Strikes Law to Violent and Serious Felonies.
Official Summary: Amends "Three Strikes" law to require mandatory increased sentences only when current conviction is for serious or violent felony such as rape, robbery or burglary. Provides that only prior convictions for serious or violent felonies will qualify for second and third "strike" sentence enhancements. Requires re-sentencing within 180 days of enactment for persons currently sentenced pursuant to "Three Strikes" law if offense for which they were sentenced or prior convictions used to increase their sentences do not qualify under this measure as serious or violent felonies. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Estimated short term state savings of as much as $250 million from reduced prison operations with long term prison operations savings of as much as $500 million. Additional one time savings of up to $1 billion could result from delayed construction of new prisons. Increased short term costs to counties of tens of millions of dollars primarily due to the re-sentencing provisions of this measure. In the long term, the measure could result in net savings to counties, on a statewide basis, of as much as $15 million annually. |
|
Identity Verification.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to require Department of Justice to verify identity of applicants for driver's licenses or state or local public benefits; require providers of public benefits to verify lawfulness of applicant's presence in the United States; preclude state or local public benefits for any alien classified ineligible under federal law; require sponsors to reimburse state or local government for benefits paid to a sponsored alien; require schools to determine lawfulness of pupils' presence in the United States; require state and local agents and agencies to report suspected violations of immigration laws to federal authorities. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased costs to state and local governments (including schools) to verify citizenship or immigration status of students, parents, persons seeking health care and social services, and persons who are arrested. Annual costs could potentially be in the tens of millions of dollars to over $100 million. Potential savings to state and local governments (primarily counties), of over $100 million annually, due to reduced expenditures for certain public benefits. |
|
Identity Theft. Disclosure
of Personal Information About Victims.
Official Summary: Provides that anyone who
discloses personal information about victims of identity theft is guilty of a crime.
Organizations that disclose personal information to felons resulting in identity
theft are liable for damages. Requires organizations with financial information to
develop procedures to prevent such disclosure. Organizations that disclose personal
information to parties for direct marketing are required to inform victims of their
legal rights and source of information. Allows identity theft victims to request
nondisclosure of personal information to parties engaging in direct marketing. Requires
state agency to issue model guidelines. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst
and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Measure
could result in increased administrative costs for state and local governments to
comply with its provisions. |
|
Mandatory Defense of Initiatives.
Public Funding for Attorney Fees.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to: Require Governor to direct Attorney General to defend, through the highest appellate court, any lawsuit challenging an initiative approved by the voters; require initiative proponent be a party to any legal challenge; require state to pay attorney's fees and legal costs incurred by proponent as a party to any challenge; require party that loses a legal challenge to an approved initiative to pay reasonable legal costs and attorney's fees; defines proponent, and gives proponent of initiatives the right to sue government to enforce the initiative. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in potential unknown state costs. The magnitude of these costs are probably not significant in the context of overall state expenditures. |
|
Prayer in Public Schools
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to require at least one minute of silence, at the beginning of school day, during which kindergarten through 12th grade students can choose to openly pray or not pray. Prohibits discrimination against students who exercise religious freedom in public schools. Provides that the Bible is a recognized source of history and students may base reports on it. Mandates daily opportunity for students to recite Pledge of Allegiance and requires retention of the word "God" in the pledge. Requires publication of measure's provisions in student handbooks. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in public schools incurring some minor, primarily one-time costs to make information available to the public. These costs probably could be absorbed within existing school budgets. |
|
Public Schools. Class Size
Reduction. One-half Percent Sales Tax.
Official Summary: Provides funds to reduce
public school class sizes to not more than 20 pupils in elementary grades 4, 5, and
6, and in specified core subjects, including English language arts, math, science,
social science in grades 7 through 12. Finances class size reduction program by enacting
additional one-half percent retail sales tax, phased in over three years. Requires
annual audits and reports by school districts receiving funding. Establishes order
in which class size reductions will be funded. Requires adoption of regulations governing
applications for and use of funds. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and
Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: This measure
would result in annual state revenues of approximately $2.3 billion by 2003-04 from
an additional one-half percent sales tax, supporting class size reduction in grades
4 through 12. It would also result in state and local costs, potentially in excess
of $2 billion spread over many years, to provide additional facilities for class
size reduction. |
|
Legalized Gambling.
Official Summary: Legalizes Las Vegas and Atlantic City type gambling for a period of 28 years at two locations only, California City in Kern County and an Indian reservation to be selected by majority vote of all California tribes recognized by the federal government. Permits gambling presently prohibited including slot machines and various other banked games. Creates three-member state commission to supervise gaming activities, including the issuance of permits. Upon expiration of 28 years, Legislature may: further extend experimental program; extend legalized gambling to all counties and Indian tribes; or eliminate gambling in its entirety. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This initiative could result in annual revenues to the state and local governments: This initiative could result in annual revenues to the state and local governments potentially in the tens of millions of dollars from fees and taxes associated with Las Vegas- and Atlantic City-type operations and related economic activity. |
|
Tobacco Litigation Settlement
Funds.
Official Summary: Establishes, effective 1/1/2001,
California Tobacco Settlement Fund and city and county Tobacco Settlement Funds.
Requires proceeds from national tobacco litigation settlement be paid to such Funds
and restricts annual allocations by state to designated health care services, and
by cities and counties to health care and human services. When state tax revenues
are forecasted to be less than prior fiscal year, the Legislature, by two-thirds
vote, may reallocate state settlement proceeds. Allocation restrictions shall not
apply to a county with population less than 750,000. Summary of estimate by Legislative
Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments:
Measure would result in a state General Fund revenue loss, and a corresponding state
special fund revenue gain, ranging from about $390 million to about $470 million
annually (plus inflation adjustments). Similarly, there would be a commensurate revenue
transfer from counties' current repositories for tobacco settlement payments to the
local Tobacco Settlement Funds. |
|
California Tobacco Litigation
Settlement Funds.
Official Summary: Establishes California Tobacco
Settlement Fund effective 1/1/2001. Requires state monies received from the 1998
national tobacco litigation settlement be paid into Fund and restricts annual allocation
of Fund to designated categories of health care services including: prescription
drugs, community based long term care, emergency medical services, tobacco prevention,
nonprofit clinics, school nurses services, trauma centers, |
|
Prohibition on Unsolicited
Telemarketing Calls and E-mail Advertisements.
Official Summary: Makes it illegal to make any unsolicited telephone call to a residential telephone subscriber for the purpose of selling goods or services unless the seller has an ongoing business or personal relationship with the recipient, or the recipient has elected to receive such calls. Maks it illegal to send unsolicited e-mail advertisements to any electronic mail address in California unless the advertiser has an ongoing business or personal relationship with the recipient. Authorizes civil enforcement and recovery of civil damages by private parties. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The measure would result in an unknown, but probably not significant, increase in annual state court costs and administrative expenses. |
|
Legislators' and State Officers'
Compensation.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to: reduce salaries of legislators to $75,000 per year; requires Legislature's and voters' approval to adjust state officer salaries and benefits; reduces legislators' travel and living expenses to $75.00 per day, while in session, for up to 120 days annually; allows increases to expense payments if Legislature and voters approve; requires forfeiture of legislators' compensation if Budget Act not passed by June 15 of each year; requires compensation be forfeited until Budget Act is presented to the Governor; allows payment of forfeited compensation if Legislature and voters approve. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: This measure would result in reduced compensation costs for state officials of several million dollars annually, and unknown, but probably not significant, elections-related costs to the state and counties. |
|
Reapportionment.
Official Summary: Requires the Judicial Council,
each year following year of the national census, to appoint a 3-member panel of Special
Masters to hold public hearings and prepare plans for the reapportionment of legislative,
congressional, and Board of Equalization districts, in accordance with specified
criteria. Requires California Supreme Court to review the reapportionment plans prepared
by the Special Masters and determine |
|
Referendum Process.
Official Summary: Changes process for voter approval or rejection of new laws. Only entire law could be challenged. Request for petition form and $5,000 deposit would stay new law from taking effect. Reduces total signatures required to qualify petition for ballot from 5 to 2 percent of all votes cast for all candidates for Governor in preceding gubernatorial election. Extends petition deadline to 150 days after form issued. Requires petition printable from Internet and identifies Internet site for information. Removes requirement that petition include challenged law. Secretary of State to provide running count of signatures submitted. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure could result in significant costs for the state and for county governments on a statewide basis, potentially amounting to several million dollars per election. |
|
Funding Private Investigation
of Santa Barbara County Court Case Files of Insanity Actions.
Official Summary: Requires state to fund investigation of court files of insanity actions in Santa Barbara County. Funds to be available to voter approved investigator. Investigator is provided a superior court judge and courtroom equipped with video and sound recording equipment to take testimony on early court case files of insanity actions. Requires state to broadcast, on county government television, video documentation of investigation at minimum once each week for six months and, thereafter, once each month for ten years. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The fiscal effect on the state and local governments of this measure is unknown. |
|
Election District Reapportionment.
Two-Thirds Vote.
Official Summary: Requires two-thirds concurrence
of both houses of Legislature to redraw district boundaries for Congress, State Assembly
and Senate, Board of Equalization. Imposes deadline for passage of required redistricting
plans following federal decennial census. Prohibits use of data regarding voters'
party affiliations or voting history. Prohibits consideration of potential impact
on incumbents or political parties. Links district boundaries: two Assembly districts
comprise one Senate district; ten Senate districts comprise one Board of Equalization
district. Requires single bill for all Senate, Assembly, Equalization district adjustments,
and single bill for all adjustments to congressional districts. Summary of estimate
by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local
governments: This measure would probably have no fiscal effect on the state or local
governments. |
|
Political Contribution Limits.
Official Summary: Replaces current campaign
finance laws. Limits campaign contributions by any person to: $25,000 annually to
a political party or its committee; $10,000 with respect to an election, to a candidate
for statewide office; and $5,000 with respect to an election, to a candidate for
legislative office. Exempts sponsored committee formed to support or oppose ballot
measures from contribution limits. Requires adjustment of contribution limits to
reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index beginning 2003 and odd numbered years
thereafter. Requires candidates for statewide or legislative offices to report contributions
of $5,000 or more online within 24 hours. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst
and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net
fiscal effect of this measure is unknown at this time because it depends upon (1)
whether the courts uphold Proposition 208 (approved by the voters in 1996) and allow
it to go into effect before this measure goes before the voters and (2) whether the
voters enact Proposition 25 on the March 2000 ballot. |
|
Election Districts. Redistricting
Commission.
Official Summary: Creates 17-member commission
to redraw district boundaries for Congress, State Assembly and Senate, and Board
of Equalization following decennial federal census. Sixteen Commission members appointed
by legislative leadership, but current lobbyists and persons recently seeking or
holding elective office are disqualified; Commission selects seventeenth member,
who cannot be from a political party represented in Legislature. Prohibits consideration
of or effect on incumbents or voters' political affiliations or voting history in
making district adjustments. Requires geographically compact districts. Provides
for Supreme Court review and permits voter referendum of redistricting plan. Summary
of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local government: Because the measure requires that the Legislature make funds
available from its own budget for personnel and computer technology for the commission,
and because the Legislature's budget is limited under the Constitution, the measure
would probably not result in any additional costs related to these activities. However,
to the extent that the commission incurs other costs, such as travel and expenses
for members of the commission, the state could incur unknown, but probably not major,
additional costs. |
|
Redistricting Commission.
Election Districts.
Official Summary: Creates five-member commission to redraw district boundaries for Congress, State Assembly and Senate, Board of Equalization promptly after each federal census. Commission members appointed by Assembly Speaker, Senate Pro Tempore, leader of largest minority party in each house; four members select fifth member (Chair). Disqualifies current lobbyists and persons recently seeking or holding elective office. Prohibits district adjustments based on incumbents' residences or voters' political affiliations, race, ethnicity, national origin, unless required by federal law. Requires geographically compact districts. Permits Legislature to reject redistricting plans by three-fourths vote of both houses. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in additional costs to the State for the commission to develop reapportionment plans every ten years. These costs are probably in the range of up to several million dollars, and would depend on a number of factors, including the costs to the commission to obtain and analyze data and compensate the members. |
|
Elimination of Public Schools
and Funding. Voucher System.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to eliminate public education for grades K-12. Prohibits State from operating or regulating K-12 or technical schools and providing textbooks and other instructional materials. Establishes Educational Performance Fund to provide redeemable vouchers for K-12 educational expenses. Eliminates public educational funding after 20 years. Requires testing of students to determine performance levels. Requires Legislature to encourage formation of open-enrollment schools and provide legislation for low cost teacher housing/training complexes. Automatically qualifies credentialed teachers as licensed child care providers who may receive assignments of vouchers. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Sales of public schools could generate one-time revenues potentially exceeding $100 billion. Measure could also result in annual long-term savings approaching $100 billion for elimination of public support of K-12 education; capital outlay savings to state and local governments of as much as $1 billion annually; and potential loss of federal funds in the billions of dollars annually. |
|
September Primary and Campaign
Finance Reform.
Official Summary: Establishes the first Tuesday in September as a statewide, nonpresidential primary election date. Repeals most campaign finance laws. Limits contributions to statewide candidates to $10,000 per person, and state legislative candidates to $5,000 per person, in each general, primary or special election. Exempts committees of political parties from campaign contribution limits. Adjusts the maximum contribution limits biennially, beginning in the year 2003 to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Requires candidates to file an online report, within 24 hours of receipt, of every contribution of $5,000 or more. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure could have significant fiscal effect on state government. However, the net fiscal effect of this new initiative is unknown at this time because it depends upon (1) whether the courts uphold Proposition 208 and allow it to go into effect before this new initiative would go before the voters, (2) whether the voters enact Proposition 25 on the March 2000 ballot, and (3) whether the provisions in this measure pertaining to primary election dates are interpreted to change the date such elections are held. |
|
June Primary and Campaign
Finance Reform.
Official Summary: Establishes the first Tuesday in June as a statewide, nonpresidential primary election date. Repeals most campaign finance laws. Limits contributions to statewide candidates to $10,000 per person, and state legislative candidates to $5,000 per person, in each general, primary or special election. Exempts committees of political parties from campaign contribution limits. Adjusts the maximum contribution limits biennially, beginning in the year 2003, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Requires candidates to file an online report, within 24 hours of receipt, of every contribution of $5,000 or more. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure could have significant fiscal effects on state government. However, the net fiscal effect of this new initiative is unknown at this time because it depends upon (1) whether the courts uphold Proposition 208 and allow it to go into effect before this new initiative would go before the voters, (2) whether the voters enact Proposition 25 on the March 2000 ballot, and (3) whether the provisions in this measure pertaining to primary election dates are interpreted to change the date such elections are held. |
|
Repeal of Proposition 209.
Public Employment, Education and Contracting.
Official Summary: Repeals article I, section 31, of the California Constitution which was added by the passage of Proposition 209 at the November 1996 general election. Article I, section 31, generally prohibits state and local governmental agencies and public schools, colleges, and universities from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This initiative could result in state and local government costs, depending on future action by the state and local governments to either restructure existing programs or expand or add new preference-based affirmative action programs. |
|
Legislative Term Limits
Official Summary: Amends the California Constitution to extend the limit on years of service for State Senators from two four-year terms to no more than twelve years, and the limit for Assembly members from three two-year terms to no more than twelve years. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would probably have no direct fiscal impact on the state or local governments. |
|
Judges. Restrictions on Judicial
Immunity.
Official Summary: Supersedes existing judicial immunity and creates three 25-member "Special Grand Juries" empowered to: determine if a judge may invoke judicial immunity in a civil suit; indict and, through a special trial jury, convict and sentence a judge for criminal conduct; and permanently remove a judge who receives three adverse immunity decisions or three criminal convictions. Disallows immunity for deliberate violations of law, fraud, conspiracy, intentional due process violations, deliberate disregard of material facts, judicial acts outside the court's jurisdiction, unreasonable delay of a case, or any deliberate constitutional violation. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: If passed, the measure will result in costs to the state of about $18 million annually for the operation of special grand juries. These costs could be partially to fully offset by a number of sources specified in the measure. To the extent that the measure results in additional civil cases being filed against judges in court, the measure could also result in unknown additional costs to the state for support of the courts. |
|
Local Property Tax. Revenue
Allocation. Local Government Control.
Official Summary: Requires Legislature to
return control of local property taxes to local government and revise tax allocation
system within three years to meet this requirement. Establishes fixed apportionment
of local property tax revenues: 50% to cities and counties for municipal services;
50% to finance county's public schools. Permits cities and counties to allocate portions
of their share to special districts. Prohibits further collection of property tax
revenues for Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF). Legislature remains obligated
to meet its school funding obligations, but not from local revenue sources. Summary
of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: Increased state costs for education of about $400 million
annually. Unknown, but likely significant, shifts in revenues among cities, counties,
and special districts. |
This page was first published on May 11, 2000 | Last updated on January 24, 2001
copyright 1994 - 2001, California Voter Foundation. All rights reserved.