 |
INITIATIVE WATCH |
|
INITIATIVE WATCH |
The following measures failed to qualify for the ballot or were withdrawn from circulation
|
Additional Requirements for
Local Voter Petitions to Extend Legislative Term Limits.
Official Summary: This measure would take
effect only if another proposed initiative measure, entitled "Legislative Term
Limits. Local Voter Petitions. Initiative Constitutional Amendment," is approved
by voters. This measure imposes more requirements for qualifying incumbent state
legislators to run for re-election and serve for an additional four years maximum.
This measure establishes: qualifications for those who may circulate and sign a petition
to qualify a legislator for re-election; verification procedures; restrictions on
contributions for or against petition qualification; financial disclosure requirements;
and penalties for violation of petition procedures. Summary of estimate by Legislative
Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments:
This measure would result in unknown, probably minor, costs to local governments
for signature |
|
Affordable Housing Communities.
Internet Programs
Official Summary: Requires Department of Housing and Community Development to establish and maintain an Internet website, computer programs, and a database facilitating development and marketing of affordable housing communities. Authorizes Department to: enter into partnerships with private entities and local, state and federal government agencies to create affordable housing communities adjacent to planned lakes and reservoirs; develop standards for affordable housing communities and approve affordable housing development projects meeting certain criteria; and consult with other state agencies and private entities to facilitate development of affordable housing communities. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Measure would result in major fiscal impacts consisting of: increased state costs likely totaling several millions of dollars on a one-time basis to establish an Internet database with lesser ongoing costs, depending on the number of affordable housing developments; and unknown impact on future local government property tax revenues. |
|
Alcoholic Beverages Surtax.
Sex Crime Enforcement and Victim Assistance.
Official Summary: Imposes surtax on alcoholic beverages of 25 cents per container or per serving. Directs surtax to be deposited into a trust fund administered by the Attorney General for financial support for sex crimes victims, for law enforcement training, and for grants for local law enforcement, prosecutors, and child social services. Increases penalties for specified sex crimes to 50 years without parole where the victim is a minor and to 25 years without parole where the victim is a woman. Requires individualized determination of bail for such crimes. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Measure would result in increased special fund revenues from the new alcoholic beverage tax ranging from $1 billion to $2 billion annually, and comparatively modest other state and local revenue effects; increased state General Fund prison costs, eventually reaching $800 million annually in 2048-49 for state operations and totaling $1.9 billion for capital outlay; and increased tax administration costs potentially ranging up to several million dollars annually. |
|
Beginning of Life. Definition.
Official Summary: Eliminates portion of the
California Civil Code providing that a child conceived, but not yet born, is deemed
an existing person, so far as necessary for the child's interest in the event of
the child's subsequent birth. Amends the California Civil Code to state that a child
conceived, but not yet born, has life because life begins at conception. 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 on state and local expenditures
and revenues is unknown because the measure's scope and impact on existing laws and
programs is unclear. |
|
Beginning of Life. Definition.
Equal Protection.
Official Summary: Provides that the State of California recognizes that a person's life begins at conception. Expressly acknowledges that every person has equal protection under California law. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net fiscal impact of the measure on the state and local expenditures and revenues is unknown because the measure's scope and impact on existing laws and programs is unclear. |
|
California Clemency Boards.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to repeal Governor's clemency powers. Creates California Clemency Board to exercise clemency powers. Also creates county clemency boards composed of five citizens randomly selected from voting rolls. Authorizes boards to: release prisoners or reduce sentences upon consideration of unjust treatment while in care of state; and release qualifying nonviolent prisoners to prevent prison overcrowding. Specifies clemency may be granted for humanitarian reasons. Establishes office of elected statewide clemency boards administrator responsible for receiving clemency petitions, managing financial affairs of board, and or ensuring prisoner issues are brought before board. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in significant unknown costs to the state which may be offset by a potential unknown reduction in prison operation costs. |
|
Casino-Type Gaming. Legalized.
Pilot Program.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to legalize, for the next 28 years, Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling (including sports wagering, roulette, slot machines, and any banking and percentage games played with cards or dice) in twelve California cities: Barstow, Redding, Yreka, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego, Oakland, Lakeport, Bell Gardens, Gardena, Eureka, Banning. Limits Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling to one Indian reservation selected by a majority vote of all California Indian Tribes recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Creates three-member state commission to supervise gambling operations and operators in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The fees and taxes associated with Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling operations and other related economic activity could result in potentially hundreds of millions of dollars annually in revenues to the state and local governments. |
|
Citizen Clemency Boards.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to repeal Governor's clemency powers. Establishes California Clemency Board to exercise clemency powers. Creates county clemency boards composed of five citizens randomly selected from voting rolls. Authorizes boards to: release prisoners or reduce sentences upon consideration of unjust treatment while in care of state; and release qualifying nonviolent prisoners to prevent prison overcrowding. Specifies clemency may be granted for humanitarian reasons. Establishes office of elected statewide clemency board administrator responsible for receiving clemency petitions, managing financial affairs of board, and for ensuring prisoner issues are brought before board. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in significant unknown costs to the state which may be offset by a potential unknown reduction in prison operation costs. |
|
Community Service Requirement
for High School Graduation.
Official Summary: Amends Education Code to require, beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, completion of 40 hours of community service, at an acceptable non-profit institution or a governmental entity, as a prerequisite to the receipt of a high school diploma. Defines "acceptable non-profit institution" to include organizations that provide valuable educational, charitable, social, religious, civic, governmental, environmental, economic or humanitarian services. Requires the Secretary of State to compile and maintain a list of acceptable non-profit private institutions and governmental entities. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would have a one-time General Fund cost of $300,000 to $400,000 for the state to establish a list of acceptable non-profit organizations (in the 2004-05 fiscal year) and an annual cost of $80,000 thereafter to maintain the list, and would engender annual costs to school districts and county offices of education probably in the range of $7 million statewide, beginning in 2005-06. |
|
Compensation of State Officers.
Official Summary: Abolishes the California Citizens Compensation Commission enacted by voters in 1990. Reduces salaries of State Officers, defined generally as legislators and elected statewide officers, to levels existing on January 1, 1998. Permits Legislature to increase salaries of State Officers when approved by voters at a statewide general election. Requires that most additional benefits offered to State Officers be the same as those offered to all state employees, but does not apply to or affect travel and living expenses of legislators. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The measure would result in (1) state savings for state-elected officials' salaries of several hundred thousand dollars; (2) no reduction in total legislative expenditures, given current provisions of the Constitution; and (3) unknown, probably not significant, election costs in the future. The net fiscal impact in unknown, but probably not significant in the context of the overall state budget. |
|
Correctional Education Program.
Official Summary: Creates Correctional Education Board to oversee the education program for state prison inmates. Requires program to provide opportunities for educational and vocational training to inmates with a reasonable expectation of release, and provide inmates to be released with courses on life management and social adaptation skills. Requires Board to appoint Superintendent of Correctional Education to: ensure that program meets minimum performance standards; develop procedure to evaluate the program's effectiveness; and develop 5-year plan for a unified correctional school system. Requires Board to submit report to Legislature with recommendations for further restructuring of the program. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The proposed measure would result in ongoing state costs of approximately $200 million annually for additional teaching staff, and unknown one-time capital outlay costs potentially up to several hundreds of millions of dollars for additional classroom space. There would also be minor state costs for the expenses of the Board. These costs could potentially be partially offset by unknown incarceration savings. |
|
Digital Signature. Election
Petitions. Public and Private Transactions.
Official Summary: Establishes a state agency to issue a digital certificate to any California resident. Requires certificate to generate a verified digital signature that can be used to subscribe to any authorized public or private sector electronic transaction. Authorizes use as driver license, identification or voter registration card at no additional charge. Requires election officials to validate and count digital signatures for candidacy, initiative, referendum and recall petitions if transmitted to a secure website provided by candidate or proponent. Preserves traditional signature methods. Imposes imprisonment and fines for violations of this system. Summary of the estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Measure would result in unknown, major one-time costs to develop the systems, and could result in unknown major (probably in the range of tens of millions of dollars) annual net costs to state and local governments. |
|
Emergency Medical Services. Funding.
Official Summary: Creates state and country
funds administered by designated agencies to: provide funds to hospitals for their
proportionate share of emergency services; reimburse physicians for performing uncompensated
emergency medical services; and provide funds for training and equipment for pre-hopsital
emergency personnel. Provides for collection, allocation and disbursement of funds
from additional penalties assessed for criminal convictions including certain Vehicle
Code violations and from a portion of penalties already collected. Also appropriates
and allocates an amount not less than a portion of revenues generated by existing
tobacco products taxes to state physician services fund. |
|
Homeowner's Real Property
Tax Exemption and Renter's Tax Credit.
Official Summary: Beginning January 2005, increases homeowner's real property tax exemption from $7,000 to $32,000 of the full value of the homeowner's residence. Beginning January 2005, provides $250 "supplemental renter's tax credit" for married couples, heads of households, surviving spouses; and $125 for all other qualified renters. Provides for annual adjustments to homeowner's exemption based on increases to state Consumer Price Index; and comparable increase to renter's tax credit if homeowner's exemption is increased. Authorizes Legislature to enact additional increases to homeowner's exemption and renter's credit. |
|
Juvenile Court. Dependency
Hearings.
Official Summary: Allows jury trial on allegations of abuse or neglect in juvenile dependency hearings. Requires public hearings, unless a finding of serious harm or harm to the child's best interest. Grants such hearings precedence over civil matters. Requires good cause showing for continuance; court may not grant continuance if contrary to child's interest or beyond 30 days following removal of the child absent a finding of exceptional circumstances. Prohibits support and cost reimbursement order if petitioner's request for continuance granted. Creates preference for relative placement where child is initially removed from parents. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net fiscal impact of this initiative is unknown due to the potential unknown state costs related to court activities for juvenile dependency jury trials and the potential unknown foster care costs or savings, depending on how the change to a jury trial system alters foster care placement outcomes. |
|
Labeling of Genetically Engineered
Foods.
Official Summary: Provides that all foods sold or distributed in or from California that contain, or are produced with, "genetically engineered material" shall bear labels stating: "Genetically engineered. NOTICE: This product contains genetically engineered material or was produced with genetically engineered material." Requires labels for "genetically engineered goods" to specify (1) changes in a food's composition, nutritional value, or required preparation steps that are due to genetic engineering, (2) details of any "trans-species gene transfer," and (3) details of any transfer of animal genes into plants. Violations of these provisions shall be a misdemeanor. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would probably result in state costs of several million dollars annually and potential state revenue reductions that are probably minor in the context of overall state revenues. It could also result in unknown, but probably not significant, costs for local government. |
|
Legalized Casino Gambling.
City of Eureka Pilot Program.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to legalize Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling (sports wagering, roulette, slot machines and banking and percentage games played with cards or dice) for the next 28 years in the city of Eureka on experimental basis. Creates a three-member state commission appointed by the Governor to supervise gambling operations and operators. Creates a commission appointed by the city of Eureka to investigate applicants for gaming licenses and to establish licensing and tax fees. Requires each gaming institution to have a license and a permit to conduct gaming activities. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This initiative could result in revenues to the state and local governments, potentially up to the low millions of dollars annually, from fees and taxes associated with Las Vegas- and Atlantic City-type operations and other related economic activity. |
|
Legalized Casino Gambling.
Pilot Program.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to legalize,
for the next 28 years, Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling (including
sports wagering, dice games, slot machines, and any banking and percentage games
played with cards or dice) in twelve California cities: Adelanto, Oceanside, Ventura,
Bakersfield, Fresno, San Jose, Oakland, Stockton, Antioch, Commerce, Inglewood, and
Banning. Limits Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling to one Indian reservation
selected by a majority vote of all California Indian Tribes recognized by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs. Creates a three-member state commission to supervise gambling
operations and operators in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst
and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The fees
and taxes associated with Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling operations
and other related economic activity could result in potentially hundreds of millions
of dollars annually in revenue to the state and local governments. |
|
Legalized Casino-type Gambling.
Pilot Program.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to legalize Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling (sports watering, roulette, slot machines and banking percentage games played with cards or dice) for the next 28 years in the following twelve California cities: Barstow, Redding, Yreka, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego, Oakland, Lakeport, Bell Gardens, Gardena, Eureka, and Banning. Limits Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino-type gambling to one Indian reservation selected by a majority vote of all California Indian Tribes recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Creates a three-member state commission to supervise gambling operations and operators in California. |
|
Legalized Gambling
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to legalize
Las Vegas and Atlantic City style gambling. Directs Legislature to pass all laws
reasonably necessary to provide option to cities and counties, and if approved by
local election, to allow such gaming. Permits gambling presently prohibited by the
Constitution, including sports wagering, dice games, slot machines, and banking and
percentage games played with cards, dice or any device money, credit or other representations
of value. Creates a three-member state commission to supervise gaming and all persons
or things having to do with the operation of gaming within the state. Summary of
estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: This initiative would result in increased state and local
tax revenues - potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. |
|
Local Funds and Revenues.
Official Summary: Specifies local funds and revenues available to cities, counties and special districts for health, safety and other services. Excludes redevelopment agencies, school or community college districts. Establishes base amount; provides annual adjustment based on cost of living and population. Prohibits Legislature and state agencies from reducing specified local funds and revenues available to local government for appropriation for public health, safety or other services. Permits Legislature to suspend prohibition through urgency legislation for one year in ten year period and, with voter approval, for addition two consecutive years. Requires public financial accountability process. |
|
Local Funds and Revenues
for Local Government Services.
Official Summary: Specifies funds and revenues available to cities, counties and special districts for health, safety and other services. Excludes redevelopment agencies, school or community college districts. Establishes base amount; provides annual adjustments based on cost of living and population. Prohibits Legislature and state agencies form reducing base amount of specified local governments and special districts funds and revenues available for appropriation for public health, safety or other services. Requires local governments to establish and implement financial accountability processes. |
|
Local Government Reimbursements.
Official Summary: Requires state to reimburse local governments for costs, reduction in funds, or amount paid by or charged to that local government for: imposing new programs or higher service levels in existing programs, increasing local government's statutory share of jointly funded program; reducing local government's share of local taxes, fees, vehicle license fees; reducing revenues from fines and forfeitures; and modifying special fund allocations. Permits Legislature to suspend local government reimbursement for one year, and with voter approval, for a total of three consecutive years in a 10 year period. Requires public financial accountability process. |
|
Local Government Services.
Available Local Funds and Revenues.
Official Summary: Specifies local funds and revenues available to cities, counties and special districts for health, safety and other services. Excludes redevelopment agencies, school or community college districts. Establishes base amount; provides annual adjustment based on cost of living and population. Prohibits Legislature and state agency actions that reduce base amount of specified local funds and revenues available to local government for appropriation for public health, safety or other services. Permits Legislature to suspend prohibition through urgency legislation for two years in a ten year period. Requires public financial accountability. |
|
Local Governments. State
Reimbursements.
Official Summary: Requires state to reimburse local governments for costs, reduction in funds, or amount paid by or charged to that local government for: imposing new programs or higher service level in existing programs; increasing local government's share of jointly funded programs; reducing local government's share of local taxes, fees, vehicle license fees; reducing revenues from fines and forfeitures; and modifying special fund allocations. Permits Legislature to suspend local government reimbursement for one year, and with voter approval, for total of three consecutive fiscal years in a 10 year period. Requires public financial accountability process. |
|
Local Public Health and Safety
Financing. Local Funds and Revenues.
Official Summary: Provides for determination of base amount of funds and revenues available to cities, counties and special districts for appropriation for public health and safety services. Excludes redevelopment agencies, school or community college districts. Provides annual adjustment to base amount based on cost of living and population. Requires each local government to file annual report of base amount with State Controller. Prohibits Legislature and state agencies from reducing base amount of local funds and revenues available for public health and safety services. Requires public financial accountability processes. |
|
Minimum Wage.
Official Summary: Provides that the minimum wage required by statute will be raised to $10.29 per hour, effective January 1, 2003. Requires the industrial Welfare Commission to make annual adjustments to the minimum wage paid to urban wage earners and clerical workers on or before October 1st, beginning in 2004, to reflect changes in the federal Consumer Price Index. Exempts family-owned businesses with fewer than five full-time or full-time equivalent employees from the statutory minimum wage. Also exempts students under the age of 18 who work less than 20 hours per week from the minimum wage. |
|
Monorail Systems. Development
and Testing.
Official Summary: Requires Department of Transportation to develop ten standardized elevated dual-track monorail systems with money appropriated by Legislature and to test effectiveness. Provides for selection of five urban and five rural sites in consultation with federal and state agencies and private associations. Establishes priority to sites that interface with currently planned or operating systems and sites that allow for expansion. Specifies criteria for urban and rural site selection. Requires any selected monorail system to include specified components, including dual-track length, number of cars, passenger capacity, restrooms, and refreshment areas. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Costs to the state would be at least in the hundreds of millions of dollars, to the extent the Legislature appropriates funds for this measure. |
|
Natural Gas. Local Government
Acquisition and Control.
Official Summary: Authorizes any county, city,
public district or municipal corporation, including an irrigation district, to buy
or otherwise acquire natural gas from any public or private entity, and to acquire,
operate and control equipment and facilities for the exploration, development, production,
distribution, sale or lease of natural gas for any public or private use. Exempts
local governments, districts and municipal corporations exercising this authority
from regulatory control by the Public Utilities Commission. Summary of estimate by
Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments:
The measure would result in the fiscal impact of potential increased spending by
local governments on natural gas-related activities, offset by fees charged to energy
users. |
|
Old-Growth Tree Preservation.
Official Summary: Protects California's old-growth trees by prohibiting cutting or significant harm to heritage trees in California except as permitted in statute and by creating buffer zones. Requires that timber and other operations be conducted consistent with statute. Creates Heritage Tree Preservation Fund administered by Wildlife Conservation Board. Provides for civil penalties and injunctive relief against any person who performs, conducts, orders, or directs timber operations in violation of statute. Also provides for investigation and disciplinary action against any registered professional forester for material misstatement by failing to designate heritage trees in timber harvesting plan. |
|
Overriding Federal Law. Petition
to Secretary of State.
Official Summary: Proposes that any bill passed
to law by majority vote in one state shall override any existing contradictory law
in Congress. Requires petition to Secretary of State to submit to voters any law
passed by a majority vote in any state. Amends statute to provide that the People
of California find aborting equipment still exists and must be removed. Summary of
estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: This measure would have no fiscal impact on state and local
government. |
|
Peace Officer and Firefighter
Property Tax Exemption.
Official Summary: Amends the Constitution to allow the Legislature to provide full or partial property tax exemption for the home of firefighters or police officers if the person died as a result of an injury sustained or disease contracted while on duty or the person is blind in both eyes, has lost the use of two or more limbs, or is totally disabled because of an injury incurred while on duty. Exemption may be granted to the eligible firefighter or police officer or his or her spouse, including an unmarried surviving spouse. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The measure would result in a major fiscal impact. Dependant on legislative action, potential loss of local property tax revenues of several million dollars annually, with about half of any losses made up by increased state spending. |
|
Presidential Elections. Electoral
College Voting Procedures. Absentee Ballot Deadlines. Vote Certification and Recount
Procedures.
Official Summary: Replaces current "winner-take-all" voting system for presidential electors. Provides that California's electoral college votes be determined on the basis of the outcome in each congressional district, plus two votes determined by the statewide outcome. Provides additional time for receipt and counting of absentee ballots from military voters overseas. Provides for petition by presidential candidates to seek accelerated vote certification and recount of votes for President. Provides for Secretary of State to adopt regulations for recounting ballots for each voting system in use. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in minor absorbable costs to the state and significant unknown county costs ranging from hundreds to thousands to several millions of dollars for every four years depending on the number and size of counties required to participate in an accelerated certification. |
|
Race, Ethnicity, Color or
National Origin Classification.
Official Summary: Effective January 1, 2005
prohibits state, local governments from using race, ethnicity, color or national
origin to classify current or prospective students, contractors, or employees in
public education, contracting or employment operations. Does not prohibit classification
by sex. Prohibition also covers persons subject to other operations of government
unless Legislature finds compelling state interest, authorizes by two-thirds of each
house, and Governor approves. "Classifying" defined as separating, sorting,
or organizing persons or personal data. Exemptions include: law enforcement descriptions;
prisoner and undercover assignments; action taken to maintain federal funding. Summary
of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: This initiative would have a major fiscal impact of an annual
state savings potentially ranging from several million dollars to in excess of $10
million beginning in 2015. |
|
Reapportionment.
Official Summary: Amends constitutional provisions relating to reapportionment of Senate, Assembly, congressional, and Board of Equalization districts. Requires Judicial Council, each year following taking of the national census, to appoint a 3-member panel of qualified retired federal and state judges. Requires panel to: prepare reapportionment plans in accordance with specified criteria; and hold public hearings to receive plans proposed by an elector, and evidence and argument presented by the public regarding such plans. Permits any elector to petition California Supreme Court to challenge reapportionment plans and propose an alternative plan. Adopted plans are subject to voter approval. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in elections-related costs to the state in the range of approximately $2.2 million, and probably minor costs to counties. |
|
Reapportionment by Legislature.
Official Summary: Amends state constitutional provisions concerning reapportionment of Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization districts. Requires Legislature to adjust existing districts in accordance with specified criteria within 90 days after adoption of measure. Provides that legislators should not draw boundaries of own legislative districts or other districts where they have self-interest. Permits any elector to petition California Supreme Court to challenge reapportionment plans and to propose alternative plan. Adopted plans are subject to voter approval. Provides that if voters reject any reapportionment plan the Legislature must adopt a new plan within a specified time. |
|
Referendum Petition to Overturn
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Law
Official Summary: If signed by required number of electors and timely filed with Secretary of State, this petition will prevent implementation of Chapter 200, Statutes of 2002, a law approved by the Legislature and Governor, unless and until a majority of voters approve the law. Law subject to this referendum will require adoption of regulations to regulate "greenhouse gas" emissions for 2009-and-newer model vehicles to reduce automobile emissions to slow global warming effects. Regulations cannot impose vehicle fees/taxes, vehicle category bans, and limitations on vehicle weight, speed limit and miles traveled. |
|
Restrictions on Absentee
Voting, Voter Registration and Voting. Recall Election Procedures.
Official Summary: Amends state law to require a sworn declaration stating reasons why an absentee voter cannot go to the polls to vote. Prohibits voters from registering or re-registering within 60 days of election. Requires voters to re-register if they fail to vote in two consecutive statewide general elections. Restricts voter registration by mail. Restricts voter registration locations. Requires voters to produce social security card and other evidence of citizenship when registering to vote. Requires photographic identification to vote. Provides criminal penalties. Changes procedures for conduct of recall elections. |
|
Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Official Summary: Amends the California Constitution to add a personal right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, and home. Requires state to prove a compelling government interest for any action regulating the keeping and bearing of arms. Provides that this amendment, and such state laws as it allows, take precedence over county, city and local government regulations on this subject. Allows the state to continue regulating the acquisition or possession of arms by felons, minors, mentally incompetent persons, or persons subject to restraining orders based on their violent conduct. |
|
State Funded Residential
Loans.
Official Summary: Establishes State-owned bank to provide low-interest residential loans to California citizens. Makes sole qualification for loans proof of timely monthly rental or housing payments for three years or more. Allows persons to borrow an amount that would result in monthly mortgage payments up to 1 1/2 times their current monthly payments, and offers loan periods of 10, 15, 20, and 30 years. Prohibits foreclosure; encourages assistance with rescheduling or reducing past-due loan or property tax payments; guarantees loan refinancing for original borrower if loan maintained for no less than three years. |
|
State Grand Juries.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution to create state grand juries separate from county grand juries. Authorizes Chief Justice to impanel a state grand jury upon public interest determination, upon Attorney General's request, upon voter petition, or as authorized by statute. Adds statutes to create 13 state grand jury districts. Grants state grand juries jurisdiction over: (1) investigations of specified crimes or conduct that cross county lines; (2) criminal misconduct by law enforcement personnel; and (3) incidents wherein a prosecutor or judge stopped a county grand jury investigation in conjunction with payment of money or property. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in significant, unknown state costs ranging from several million dollars to tens of millions of dollars annually for the operation and administration of the state grand jury system. |
|
State Mandates. Local Government
Reimbursements.
Official Summary: Requires state to reimburse local governments for costs, reduced revenues funds, or amount paid by or charged to that local government for state reimbursements that: create new programs or higher service levels in existing programs, increase local government's statutory share of jointly funded programs; reduce local government's share of local taxes, fees, vehicle license fees; reduce revenues from fines and forfeitures; or modify special fund allocations. Permits Legislature to suspend local government reimbursement for two fiscal years in 10 year period. Creates presumption local government entitled to reimbursement . Requires public financial accountability process. |
|
State Reimbursements to Local
Governments.
Official Summary: Requires state to reimburse
local governments for costs, reduced revenues, funds, or amount paid by or charged
to that local government for state requirements that: create new programs or higher
service levels in existing programs; increase local government's share of jointly
funded programs; reduce local government's share of local taxes, fees, vehicle license
fees; reduce revenues from fines and forfeitures; or modify special fund allocations.
Permits Legislature to suspend local government reimbursement for two fiscal years
in 10 year period. Creates presumption local government entitled to reimbursement.
Requires public financial accountability process. |
|
Statewide Casino-type Gambling.
Legalized.
Official Summary: Amends Constitution and
statutes to legalize, for persons eighteen years or older, all forms of Las Vegas
and Atlantic City casino-type gambling, including sports wagering, slot machines
and all banking and percentage games. Creates three agencies to license and regulate
gambling operations: Gaming Policy Committee, Gaming Commission and Department of
Gaming. Creates State Lottery Corporation to oversee State Lottery. Imposes licensing
fees and gaming tax; specifies allocation of these revenues. Allows smoking and sale,
service and consumption of alcoholic beverages in gaming facilities. Requires state
to provide treatment for gambling addiction. |
|
Student Eye Examination. Public
School Expulsion.
Official Summary: Provides that a county office
of education or school district governing board shall exclude from attendance any
student who has not supplied evidence of an eye examination performed by an optometrist
or ophthalmologist by January 1 of student's first year of enrollment in public school
and by January 1 of every second year thereafter. Requires that notice, statement
of facts, and opportunity to meet be sent to student's parent or guardian before
expulsion. Directs State Board of Education to adopt regulations implementing this
provision and addressing facilitating examinations for financial hardship. Summary
of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: This measure would have the following major fiscal impact:
Annual cost of at least $9 million in the first year growing to at least $60 million
when full implementation is reached after 12 years to provide eye examinations. |
|
Tax Restructuring. Definition
of Tax.
Official Summary: Provides constitutional definition of "tax" to include any compulsory monetary charge for governmental purposes. Replaces California's sales tax with value added sales tax. Exempts food, beverage, hygiene products, internet sales, and storage or use of personal property from taxation. Requires taxes on fuel to be charged according to value; limits uses of fuel tax proceeds. Provides that if fuel is taxed or a value added sales tax is imposed, those taxes are in lieu of utilities taxes and vehicle license fees. Modifies penalties for delinquent taxes and creates amnesty program. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would have the following major fiscal effects: (1) Major restructuring of state and local finances. (2) Major annual decrease in total state government revenue in the low billions of dollars and potential annual increases in local government revenues of a similar magnitude. (3) Unknown but potentially major changes in spending both by level of government and among program areas. |
|
"Three Strikes"
Law. Limitation to Violent and Serious Felonies.
Official Summary: Amends "Three Strikes"
law to require mandatory increased sentences only when current conviction is for
specified violent and/or serious felony such as rape, robbery or murder. Provides
that only prior convictions for specified violent and/or serious felonies qualify
for second and third "strike" sentence increases. Requires re-sentencing
within 180 days of person with sentence increased pursuant to "Three Strikes"
law if offenses for which they were sentenced or prior convictions used to increase
sentences would no longer qualify under this measure as violent and/or serious felonies. |
|
Tobacco. Point-of-Sale Information
Card.
Official Summary: Creates point-of-sale education program requiring retailers to supply information card to purchasers of tobacco products. Requires information card to direct such purchasers to resources to assist them in abstaining from tobacco use. Production and distribution of information cards to retailers to be funded by the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund (Proposition 99 funds). Assesses civil penalties against retailers to distribute information cards. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure would result in first-year costs of about $100,000 and ongoing annual costs of about $25,000 from the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund. There could also be unknown, but potentially significant, costs for other smoking cessation services. These costs could be partially or fully offset by penalties. |
|
Traffic Congestion Relief
Trust Fund
Official Summary: Reallocates revenues from
currently authorized sales taxes on sale or lease of motor vehicles from the General
Fund to a new Congestion Relief Trust Fund for programs including traffic congestion
relief, highway, street, and railroad crossing improvements, rail and bus services,
senior and disabled assistance, roadside recreational facilities, bicycle commuter
projects, pedestrian safety, wildlife, habitat and wetland protection, air and water
quality improvements and others. Specifies distribution percentages, methods, conditions
and restrictions. Authorizes revenue bonds for capital outlay projects. Maintains
Proposition 98 school funding level. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and
Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure
redirects General Fund revenues to transportation purposes in the amount of about
$2.2 billion in 2002-03, $3.6 billion in 2003-04, and increasing annually thereafter.
Corresponding reductions in General Fund revenues available for non-Proposition 98
expenditures. |
|
Transportation. Traffic Congestion
Relief Fund. Allocating Sales Tax Revenues from Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Fuel
Sales.
Official Summary: Reallocates sales tax revenues
on motor vehicle sale or lease from General Fund to new Congestion Relief Trust Fund
for transportation programs including mass transit, highway improvements, and programs
mitigating environmental impacts of motor vehicles and transportation facilities.
Specifies distribution percentages, methods, conditions, restrictions. Authorizes
revenue bonds for capital outlay projects. Also makes permanent the current allocation
of motor vehicle fuel sales and use tax revenues for state highway, local road, and
public transportation purposes. Maintains Proposition 98 school funding level. Summary
of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: This measure redirects General Fund revenues to transportation
purposes in the amount of about $2.2 billion in 2002-03, $3.6 billion in 2003-04,
and increasing annually thereafter. Corresponding reductions in General Fund revenues
available for non-Proposition 98 expenditures. |
|
Transportation Funding. Use
of Revenues from Sales and Use Taxes on Vehicle Fuel.
Official Summary: Beginning July 1, 2006,
the measure makes permanent the current percentage allocations of revenues from sales
and use taxes on motor vehicle fuels to the Transportation Investment Fund for distribution
to the Department of Transportation, counties, and cities as specified. Revenues
are to be used for highway and street construction, repair, and maintenance and public
transportation purposes. Places conditions on loans of these funds to the General
Fund. Currently, these allocations are scheduled to end on June 30, 2006. Summary
of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: This measure redirects General Fund revenues to transportation
purposes in the amount of about $1.4 billion in 2006-2007 and increasing annually
thereafter. Corresponding reductions in General Fund revenues available for non-Proposition
98 expenditures. |
|
Transportation. Allocation
of Passenger Vehicle Sales and Use Taxes.
Official Summary: Creates the Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Bus Trust Fund. Reallocates certain state revenue from new passenger vehicle sales from General Fund to Trust Fund for transportation, environmental, and safety programs. Allocates portion of these funds for: school bus safety and clean air programs; highway expansion; mass transit improvements including bus purchase, commuter and light rail expansion. Provides funds for environmental enhancement programs and traffic mitigation programs. Allocates money to 45 specific projects. For remainder of Trust Fund, specifies distribution percentages, restricts fund uses, and requires accountability mechanisms. |
|
Transportation. Annual Allocation
of 1% of General Fund Revenue.
Official Summary: Creates the Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Bus Trust Fund. Reallocates 1% of General Fund revenue to the Trust Fund for transportation, environmental, and safety programs. Allocates portion of funds for: senior and disabled transportation programs; school bus safety; highway expansion; specific freeway interchange improvements; mass transit improvements, including bus purchases and commuter and light rail expansion; land acquisition for environmental purposes. Allocates money to 45 specific projects in one-time grants and ongoing appropriations. For remainder of Trust Fund, specifies distribution percentages, restricts Fund uses, and requires accountability mechanisms. |
|
Transportation. Annual Allocation
of $880 million of General Fund Money.
Official Summary: Creates the Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Bus Trust Fund. Reallocates $880 million annually from the General Fund to Trust Fund for transportation, environmental, and safety programs. Allocates portion of funds for: school bus safety and clean air programs; highway and mass transit improvements, including bus purchases, commuter and light rail expansion and repair. Allocates funds for land acquisition, wildlife protection, air and water quality improvement. Allocates money to 45 projects. For remainder of Trust Fund, specifies distribution percentages, restricts Fund uses, and requires accountability mechanisms. |
|
Welfare Benefits for Children.
Eligibility.
Official Summary: Requires that adult parents and guardians receiving benefits for dependent children work 32 hours per week for pay or serve qualified, unrelated, childless retirees or working adults. Establishes public registry of welfare participants. Limits benefits. Restricts eligibility. Denies benefits to non-California residents; provides criminal penalties for violations. Establishes public record of benefits and services provided by child-welfare benefit programs, with actual market values. Requires children to reside within county providing benefits. Permits qualified childless rental property owners to claim losses attributable to rent control. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: It is estimated that the measure would have the following fiscal effects: (1) no fiscal effects on CalWORKs and Kin-GAP programs because the work requirement provisions of the measure are unenforceable; (2) costs of at least $25 million in the Foster Care program due to the effective elimination of the Kin-GAP program; and (3) unknown costs associated with the measure's non-CalWORKs and Kin-GAP related provisions. |
|
Workers' Compensation. Increased
Benefits for Injured Workers.
Official Summary: For job-related injuries
occurring on or after January 1, 2003: Increases employer-paid maximum benefits,
calculated at two-thirds of employee's wage, from current limit of $490 per week
to not less than $651 while employee is temporarily unable to work; increases maximum
permanent partial disability benefits from $230 to not less than $434 per week; increases
death benefits payable under worker's compensation law. Future benefit increases
to be based on increases in statewide wage level, as defined. |
|
Workers' Compensation. Benefits
Increase for Worker Injuries.
Official Summary: For job-related injuries
occurring on or after January 1, 2003: Increases employer-paid maximum benefits,
calculated at two-thirds of employee's wage, from current limit of $490 per week
to not less than $651 while employee is temporarily unable to work; increases maximum
permanent partial disability benefits from $230 to not less than $434 per week; increases
death benefits payable under worker's compensation law. Amends Constitution to define
adequate benefits and to require that future annual increases be based on increases
in statewide wage level, as defined. |
This page was first published on January 24, 2001 | Last updated on November 20, 2002
copyright 1994 - 2002, California Voter Foundation. All rights reserved.