Initiatives and Referenda Cleared for Circulation

Display of State Flag. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 05/29/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 11/25/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Louis J. Marinelli  ljmarinelli@sovereignca.org

Requires display of the California State flag in the position of first honor when both the United States flag and the California State flag are displayed at schools, universities, colleges, courtrooms, government buildings, and state parks, and at events held in coliseums, stadiums, bowls, other open air sites, and race tracks. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Likely no fiscal effect on state and local governments. (15-0011.) (Full Text)

Political Contributions. Out-of-State Donors. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 05/29/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 11/25/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Louis J. Marinelli  ljmarinelli@sovereignca.org

Prohibits candidates, committees, and certain political mailer organizations from receiving funds from non-California residents. Exempts funds provided to candidates for federal office, or to political mailer organizations advocating for or against candidates for federal office. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increased state and local costs to administer and enforce campaign finance and disclosure laws, possibly in the range of a few hundred thousand dollars initially. (15-0012.)(Full Text)

Ballot Measures. Sexual Orientation Prejudice. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 05/29/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 11/25/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Charlotte Laws 

Provides any person who proposes a ballot measure that advocates the killing of gays and/or lesbians must attend sensitivity training and donate money to a pro-gay or pro-lesbian organization. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Likely negligible fiscal effect on state and local governments. (15-0014.)(Full Text)

 

 

1680. (15-0018)
Medical Marijuana. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 06/19/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/16/15 | Signatures Required: 585,407
Craig Beresh, Jeffrey Byrne, Lanette Davies, Richard Fenton, Kandice Hawes, Donna Lambert, Ronald Mullins, Eric Salerno, Deborah Tharp, Kathie Thelen, and Randall Welty

Bars state and local laws that restrict patients’ ability to obtain, cultivate, or transport medical marijuana, including concentrated cannabis, in any way that does not apply equally to other plants. Bars state and local laws that create a non-competitive market for medical marijuana. Broadens the definition of marijuana under state law to include all parts of, and anything made from, the marijuana plant. Bars state and local laws that restrict doctors’ ability to recommend marijuana to patients in any way that does not apply equally to herbal or therapeutic treatments. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Potential change in tax revenue related to sales of medical marijuana of either an increase or a decrease of tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on how the measure is implemented by the state and federal governments. (15-0018.) (Full Text)

 

1681. (15-0019)
Limits on Use of Facilities in Government Buildings and Businesses. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 06/23/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/21/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Jack Hibbs; Gina Gleason (916) 233-8769

Prohibits individuals from using facilities in government buildings except in accordance with their sex as determined at birth, through medical examination, or court judgment recognizing a change of gender. Creates legal damages claim of at least $4,000 against a government entity or person that violates the provision. Allows businesses to prohibit employees or patrons, including transgender people, from using facilities except in accordance with their sex as determined at birth, through medical examination, or court judgment. Exempts businesses from criminal and civil liability for implementing such a prohibition. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increase in state court costs related to civil claims, not likely to exceed a few tens of millions of dollars annually. Unknown increase in state and local government costs related to actions taken to avoid, litigate, or remedy civil claims filed for violating the measure. Potential significant loss of federal funds. (15-0019.) (Full Text)

 

1682. (15-0017)
Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 06/24/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/21/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Heather L. Burke, Omar Figueroa (530) 470-8509 

Retroactively legalizes, under state law, marijuana and hemp use, cultivation, possession, transportation, processing, distribution, and sale by persons 21 years and over. Creates commission to regulate and license marijuana industry. Bars commission from capping number of licensed businesses that grow less than 100 plants. Allows unlicensed cultivation for use, or sale at cost, of up to six plants per person. Applies general retail sales taxes to nonmedical marijuana sales. Permits additional taxes on nonmedical marijuana processing and sales totaling up to 30% of retail price. Allows certain local regulation, but not regulation inconsistent with measure’s policies. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Reduced costs ranging from tens of millions of dollars to potentially exceeding $100 million annually to state and local governments related to enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Net additional state and local tax revenues of potentially up to several hundred million dollars annually related to the production and sale of marijuana. (15-0017.) (Full Text)

 

1683. (15-0020, Amdt. #1)
Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 06/24/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/21/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
John Lee, Dege Coutee, Dave Hodges, Omar Figueroa, Jennifer Nicoletto, Michael Grafton, Shona Gochenaur, Teresa Randolph, Denise Dorey, Jason Bennett, Gregory Ledbetter, Jon Martinelli, Michael Goldman, Elihu Hernandez, Gilbert Canedo, Archie Hinkle, Sandra Bacon-Tercero john@afpr.us

Legalizes under state law marijuana use, growth, cultivation, possession, transportation, storage, or sale. Creates commission to regulate and license marijuana industry. Applies general retail sales taxes to marijuana, unless medical or dietary exemptions apply. Permits taxes on nonmedical marijuana sales, up to 10% of retail price. Prohibits discrimination against marijuana users or businesses. Prohibits Legislature from enacting marijuana laws. Imposes personal liability on law enforcement for wrongful marijuana destruction or assisting with certain marijuana investigations. Requires voter approval to zone beyond set limits. Nullifies other local regulations. Exempts medical marijuana collectives from licensing and local zoning. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net reduced costs ranging from tens of millions of dollars to potentially exceeding $100 million annually to state and local governments related to enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Net additional state and local tax revenues of potentially a few hundred million dollars annually related to the production and sale of marijuana, a portion of which would be required to be spent for specific purposes such as education, public safety, and drug abuse education and treatment. (15-0020.) (Full Text)

 

1684. (15-0021)
Taxes on Bottled California Water. Labeling Requirements. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 06/24/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/21/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Louis J. Marinelli  ljmarinelli@sovereignca.org

Imposes a five-cent excise tax on each ounce of bottled water containing any surface, underground, or municipal water collected in California. Applies tax revenues to fund construction and maintenance of water infrastructure projects including dams, levies, water treatment facilities, and desalination plants. Requires each container of bottled California water sold in California to bear a statement and specific logo on its label identifying the product as “not drought friendly.” Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: If the measure is able to be implemented, an uncertain, but likely small, net change in state revenues, with any bottled water excise tax revenues funding water infrastructure. Potential state costs of up to millions of dollars per year to administer the excise tax. Likely reduction in fee revenue and costs for some municipal water utilities. (15-0021.) (Full Text)

 

1685. (15-0022)
Immigration. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 06/24/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/21/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Louis J. Marinelli ljmarinelli@sovereignca.org

Authorizes California residence permits for qualifying undocumented immigrants. Creates new state department to administer permit system. Requires permit holders to pay state income taxes. Makes permit holders eligible for certain public benefits. Prohibits state and local government from using public funds to support or otherwise participate in federal immigration enforcement against permit holders. Fiscal impact: It is the opinion of the Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance that the measure, if adopted, may result in a substantial net change in state or local finances. (15-0022.) (Full Text)

 

1686. (15-0023)
Religious Organizations. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 06/25/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/22/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Jonathan D. Cobb

Rescinds religious tax exemptions for religious organizations that interfere with legal proceedings by not complying with court orders, concealing or failing to report criminal activity, promoting false testimony, or using intimidation to prevent others from taking legal action against them. Rescinds religious tax exemptions for religious organizations that lobby government or that are associated with terrorist groups. Prohibits such religious organizations, and religious organizations that commit or are involved in other crimes, from asserting ecclesiastical privilege and/or the rights of free speech and freedom of religion as defenses to liability in legal proceedings. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: If implemented, possible minor increase in state or local government revenues if any entities are found to violate the measure’s provisions and a possible minor increase in state or local government costs to investigate claims arising under the measure. (15-0023.) (Full Text)

 

1687. (15-0024)
Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 06/26/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/23/15 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Chad M. Hanes, Marinda D. Hanes

Legalizes under state law marijuana possession, production, cultivation, transportation, manufacture, processing, and sale. Creates board to license and regulate the marijuana industry. Establishes procedures for release or resentencing of persons convicted of marijuana offenses. Establishes procedures for erasing records of these convictions. Imposes excise tax on marijuana of $8 per ounce of dried marijuana, $.20 per gallon of liquid marijuana-infused products, or $1.00 per gram of concentrated marijuana. Permits local taxes on marijuana sales, up to 2% of retail price, with voter approval. Exempts medical marijuana from all taxation. Limits local regulation of marijuana. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net reduced costs ranging from tens of millions of dollars to potentially exceeding $100 million annually to state and local governments related to enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Net additional state and local tax revenues of potentially up to several hundred million dollars annually related to the production and sale of marijuana, a portion of which is required to be spent on drug education and counseling services, water supply and quality projects, research related to the medical use of marijuana, and regulation of commercial marijuana activities. (15-0024.) (Full Text)

 

1688. (15-0025)
Abortion Access Restriction. Parental Notification and Waiting Period for Females Under 18. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. 
Summary Date: 06/29/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 12/28/15 | Signatures Required: 585,407
John Smith john.smith.jsjs@gmail.com

Changes California Constitution to prohibit certain currently authorized trained and licensed medical professionals from providing abortions to unemancipated minors. Prohibits abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies parent/legal guardian in writing. Provides exceptions for medical emergency, parental waiver, or parental abuse documented by notarized statement from law enforcement or relatives. Permits judge to waive notice if minor appears personally in court and proves maturity or best interest. Requires specific abortion information reported to State. Physicians subject to suit for 12 years. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: State administrative costs of at least $1 million, and potentially several million dollars, annually. Uncertain net fiscal impact on state health and social services programs, potentially in the millions of dollars annually, to the extent the measure results in changes to the abortion and/or birth rates in the state. (15-0025.) (Full Text)

 

1689. (15-0027, Amdt. #1)
Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute. 
Summary Date: 07/07/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 01/04/16 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Jason and Lara Collinsworth (209) 605-9396

Legalizes cannabis plants and products under state law, including hemp. Releases nonviolent marijuana offenders from prison and erases their criminal records. Designates Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to regulate and license recreational marijuana industry. Imposes 15% tax on nonmedical marijuana and 3% tax on medical marijuana, and additional temporary taxes. Applies general retail sales taxes to nonmedical marijuana. Prohibits local governments from enacting taxes, fees, or bans targeting marijuana. Allows personal use of five pounds of dried marijuana, one pound of concentrated, and three gallons of liquid extracts; and private cultivation of 500 square feet per adult (1,500 per parcel). Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net reduced costs ranging from tens of millions of dollars to potentially exceeding $100 million annually to state and local governments related to enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Net additional state and local tax revenues of potentially up to several hundred million dollars annually related to the production and sale of marijuana, a large portion of which would be required to be spent for specific purposes such as education, public safety, and regulation of commercial marijuana activities. (15-0027.) (Full Text)

 

1690. (15-0028)
Homeowner’s Property Tax Exemption and Renter’s Tax Credit. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. 
Summary Date: 07/07/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 01/04/16 | Signatures Required: 585,407
Jon Coupal (916) 444-9950

Beginning January 1, 2017, increases amount of homeowner’s property tax exemption from $7,000 to $32,000. Establishes supplemental renter’s tax credit of $250 or $125, depending on taxpayer’s filing status. Provides for annual inflation adjustments to exemption and credit. Requires general fund reimbursement to local governments for lost revenue resulting from increases in exemptions and credits. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Reduced state resources of around $2 billion annually. Likely increased funding for schools and community colleges, in the tens of millions of dollars annually. (15-0028.0) (Full Text)

 

1691. (15-0029)
Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement. Initiative Statute. 
Summary Date: 07/09/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 01/05/16 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Laphonza Butler, Kimberly Amazeen, and Dustin Corcoran c/o Lance H. Olson (916) 442-2952

Increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Allocates revenues primarily to increase funding for existing healthcare programs and services; also for tobacco use prevention/control programs, for tobacco-related disease research, for state/local agencies to enhance tobacco law enforcement, for University of California to train more physicians, and for administrative expenses. If tax causes decreased tobacco consumption, transfers tax revenues to offset decreases to existing tobacco-funded programs and sales tax revenues. Requires biennial independent audit/accounting. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net increase in excise tax revenues in the range of $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion annually by 2017-18, with revenues decreasing slightly in subsequent years. The funds would be used for health care expenses, tobacco-related prevention and cessation programs, law enforcement programs, and medical research on tobacco-related diseases. (15-0029.) (Full Text)

 

1692. (15-0030)
Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement. Initiative Statute. 
Summary Date: 07/09/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 01/05/16 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Laphonza Butler, Kimberly Amazeen, and Dustin Corcoran c/o Lance H. Olson (916) 442-2952

Increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with an equivalent increase on other tobacco products. Allocates revenues primarily to increase funding for existing healthcare programs and services; also for tobacco use prevention and control programs, for tobacco-related disease research, for state and local agencies to enhance tobacco law enforcement, for University of California to train more physicians, and for administrative expenses. If tax causes decreased tobacco consumption, transfers tax revenues to offset decreases to existing tobacco-funded programs and sales tax revenues. Requires biennial independent audit/accounting. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net increase in excise tax revenues in the range of $1 billion to $1.3 billion annually by 2017-18, with revenues decreasing slightly in subsequent years. The funds would be used for health care expenses, tobacco-related prevention and cessation programs, law enforcement programs, and medical research on tobacco-related diseases. (15-0030.) (Full Text)

 

1694. (15-0031)
University of California and California State University Employees. Pension Benefits. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 07/23/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 01/19/16 | Signatures Required: 365,880
John Cox (408) 617-1888

Projects average monthly salary over a full year for UC and CSU employees who do not work a full year, to determine the employee’s final annual compensation level when calculating pension benefits. Applies to current state miscellaneous members of the CSU or UC system, and those who retired or died on or after January 1, 1999. Fiscal impact: It is the opinion of the Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance that the measure, if adopted, may have a substantial state fiscal impact. (15-0031.) (Full Text)

 

1695. (15-0032)
Minimum Wage. Increases and Future Adjustments. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 07/31/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 01/27/16 | Signatures Required: 365,880 - (25% of Signatures Reached 09/11/15)*
Steve Trossman and Arianna Jimenez c/o Amber Maltbie (213) 612-7803

Under existing law, California’s minimum wage will increase from $9.00 per hour to $10.00 per hour on January 1, 2016. This measure increases the minimum wage to $11.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2017, and by $1.00 each of the next four years, to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2021. Thereafter, adjusts the minimum wage annually based on the rate of inflation for the previous year, using the California Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Change in annual state and local tax revenues potentially ranging from a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars to a gain of more than $1 billion. Changes in state revenues would affect required state budget reserves, debt payments, and funding for schools and community colleges. Increase in state and local government spending totaling billions of dollars per year. (15-0032.) (Full Text)

 

1696. (15-0033)
Public Employees. Pension and Retiree Healthcare Benefits. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 08/11/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 02/08/16 | Signatures Required: 585,407
Chuck Reed, Stephanie Gomes, Carl DeMaio, Pat Morris, Bill Kampe, and Tom Tait (415) 732-7700

Eliminates constitutional protections for vested pension and retiree healthcare benefits for current public employees, including those working in K-12 schools, higher education, hospitals, and police protection, for future work performed. Adds initiative/referendum powers to Constitution, for determining public employee compensation and retirement benefits. Bars government employers from enrolling new employees in defined benefit plans, paying more than one-half cost of new employees’ retirement benefits, or enhancing retirement benefits, unless first approved by voters. Limits placement of financial conditions upon government employers closing defined benefit plans to new employees. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Significant effects—savings and costs—on state and local governments relating to compensation for governmental employees. The magnitude and timing of these effects would depend heavily on future decisions made by voters, governmental employers, and the courts. (15-0033.) (Full Text)

 

1697. (15-0034)
Ferrets. Legalization as Pets. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 08/13/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 02/09/16 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Pat Wright (619) 303-0645 cliffnotes@legalizeferrets.org

 

1698. (15-0036)
Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 09/08/2015 | Circulation Deadline: 03/07/16 | Signatures Required: 365,880
Chad M. Hanes, Marinda D. Hanes (415) 915-5420