1282. (07-0049)

Proponent: Tom Steyer

Enters California into an interstate agreement to allocate California’s electoral votes to the presidential ticket receiving the most popular votes nationwide. Allocates electoral votes based on the national vote only in years when states possessing a majority of total electoral votes (270 of 538) have entered into the agreement. Maintains California’s current system of awarding electoral votes to the statewide popular vote winner in other years. Eliminates $10 compensation and 5˘ per mile reimbursement of electors. Nullifies competing presidential-elector initiatives on the ballot that receive fewer votes. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Reduced state expenses of less than $10,000 every four years. (Initiative 07-0049.) (Full Text)

1281. (07-0048)

Proponent: Tom Steyer

Enters California into an interstate agreement to allocate California’s electoral votes to the presidential ticket receiving the most popular votes nationwide. Allocates electoral votes based on the national vote only in years when states possessing a majority of total electoral votes (270 of 538) have entered into the agreement. Maintains California’s current system of awarding electoral votes to the statewide popular vote winner in other years. Eliminates $10 compensation and 5˘ per mile reimbursement of electors. Nullifies competing presidential-elector initiatives on the ballot that receive fewer votes. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Reduced state expenses of less than $10,000 every four years. (Initiative 07-0048.) (Full Text)

1280. (07-0047)

Proponent: Stephen J. Kaufman (213) 452-6565

Amends the California Constitution to provide that affordable health care is an inalienable right for all people. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: No direct fiscal effect to the state; however, the measure could result in indeterminable state or local government costs depending on how it is interpreted and applied by the courts. (Initiative 07-0047.) (Full Text)

1279. (07-0046)

Proponents: James C. Harrison and Margaret R. Prinzing (510) 346-6200

Creates a new legal basis to address illegal actions by corporations or key individuals within corporations. Expands existing corporate liability by allowing designated challenges to be brought by individuals or organizations whose investments, pensions, retirement funds or savings suffer a loss. Makes corporations liable for any financial benefit acquired from the sale of securities during the period of illegal activity. Requires responsible executives to pay penalties equaling all compensation received during the period of illegal activity. Mandates penalties be paid into fund providing repayment to victims of corporate fraud. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Probably no state administrative cost. Potential unknown additional penalty revenue for corporate fraud restitution payments. (Initiative 07-0046.) (Full Text)

1278. (07-0045)

Proponents: James C. Harrison and Margaret R. Prinzing (510) 346-6200

Prohibits publicly traded companies doing business in California from initiating or revising any agreement relating to compensation of its directors or its ten highest paid executives without approval by a majority of its shareholders. Establishes liability for directors who make compensation agreements without required shareholder approval. Requires public companies to collect and report additional information regarding executive compensation and employee pay and benefits. Requires that specified compensation and benefit information be filed with the Secretary of State, included in annual reports to shareholders, and posted on each corporation’s website. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Probably negligible one-time state costs to modify the forms that corporations use to annually report certain information. (Initiative 07-0045.) (Full Text)

1277. (07-0044)

Proponents: James C. Harrison and Margaret R. Prinzing (510) 346-6200

Allows certain non-profit organizations to sue to enforce unfair business competition laws regardless of whether the organization or its member have been injured. Requires court to find settlements of class action lawsuits provide “meaningful” relief. Allows for the most effective and least costly form of notice to class members. Exempts notice to class members and changes certification requirements when lawsuit seeks injunctive, and not financial, relief. Requires twenty-five percent of punitive damages awarded in class action lawsuits be paid to the state to enforce specific laws. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Unknown fiscal impact on state revenues from court filing fees and the cost of court operations. Unknown net increase in state revenues, potentially up to the low tens of millions of dollars in some years, from providing a 25 percent share of punitive damage awards from class action cases to the state. (Initiative 07-0044.) (Full Text)

1276. (07-0043)

Proponents: James C. Harrison and Margaret R. Prinzing (510) 346-6200

Requires court to determine whether settlement of a class action lawsuit provides “meaningful relief” to class members. Limits settlements from releasing claims not covered by the lawsuit. Requires special justification for using discount coupons for future purchases as the primary relief to the class members. Requires twenty-five percent of punitive damages awarded in class action lawsuits be paid to the state instead of the class members to enforce laws promoting consumer, shareholder, pension, fire and police, insurance, and discrimination protections. Provides for methods of notice to class members. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Unknown fiscal impact on state revenues from court filing fees and the cost of court operations. Unknown net increase in state revenues, potentially up to the low tens of millions of dollars in some years, from providing a 25 percent share of punitive damage awards from class action cases to the state. (Initiative 07-0043.) (Full Text)

1275. (07-0042)

Proponent: Joe Ramsey (916) 967-8102

Requires that an enclosure or tether confining specified farm animals allow the animals for the majority of every day to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up, and turn around. Specified animals include calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens, and pregnant pigs. Exceptions made for transportation, rodeos, fairs, 4-H programs, lawful slaughter, research and veterinary purposes. Provides misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Probably minor local and state enforcement and prosecution costs, partly offset by increased fine revenue. (Initiative 07-0042.) (Full Text)

1273. (07-0039)

Ann Smith (951) 210-9149

Repeals California’s “three-strikes” sentencing statutes. Reduces sentences and provides earlier parole eligibility for habitual offenders. Provides for re-sentencing of offenders, except persons convicted of murder, to conform with new sentencing limits. Provides persons sentenced to life with possibility of parole, including those previously sentenced, become parole eligible after seven years. Requires persons sentenced to life with possibility of parole be released within specified time frames. Requires recalculations of parole eligibility dates, resetting of parole release dates, and limits factors that may be considered in setting parole release dates. Increases work-time credits. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net state operating savings of potentially a few hundred million dollars initially, increasing to the low billions of dollars annually, primarily due to reduced prison operating costs. Unknown one-time state savings for capital outlay associated with prison construction that would otherwise be needed, potentially as much as several billions of dollars in the long term. Increased county costs potentially in the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually for jail and court-related costs. (Initiative 07-0039.) (Full Text)

1272. (07-0040)

Ann Smith (951) 210-9149

Amends California Penal Code to provide additional rights to adult prisoners. Requires that prisoners have a right to: 1) confidential meetings and correspondence with media; 2) minimum 56 hours per week visitation; 3) minimum time periods for recreation and entertainment; 4) contact and family overnight visitation for inmates not housed in segregation, security, or intake; 5) specified minimum access to personal property, canteen goods, and entertainment appliances; 6) specified minimum telephone access; and 7) access to movies rated “PG-13,” “R,” and “NC-17.” Eliminates prison authorities’ discretion to prohibit access to material deemed obscene. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increased prison operating costs of several tens of millions of dollars annually primarily to increase inmate access to visiting. One-time capital outlay costs of up to a couple tens of millions of dollars to construct and renovate prison visiting facilities. (Initiative 07-0040.) (Full Text)

1316. (07-0085)

Jon Coupal, Jim Nielsen and Lew Uhler (916) 444-9950

Prohibits organizations that act as an association or representative of local agencies from spending money in state and local elections if the organizations are partly funded by dues or payments from local agencies. Applies ban to all assets of the organization, including revenue from private sources. Imposes fines on officer, employee, agent, or consultant of the public agency or organization, who violates or permits others to violate the ban. Imposes imprisonment on public officer who violates or permits others to violate the ban. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: No significant costs to state or local governments. (Initiative 07-0085.)

1313. (07-0080)

Lori S. Fisher

Raises homeowner’s property tax exemption from $7,000 to 25 percent of the full value of the dwelling up to $100,000 starting with fiscal year 2009-10. Raises the renter’s tax credit from $120 to $360 for married couples, registered domestic partners, heads of households, surviving spouses and surviving registered domestic partners, and from $60 to $180 for other qualified renters for the 2009 tax year. Each year thereafter, adjusts for inflation the maximum homeowner’s exemption and the renter’s tax credit. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increase in state costs of approximately $2 billion annually to compensate local governments for reduced property tax collections. Net increase in state personal income tax revenues of approximately $50 million annually from increases in the renters’ credit and decreases in property tax deductions. (Initiative 07-0080.)

1333. (07-0102, Amdt. #2S)

Allison Hart, Mitzi Dudley and Thomas Daly c/o Daniel K. Abramson (213) 624-6200

Authorizes $6 billion in bonds paid from state’s General Fund, allocated approximately as follows: 48% in cash payments of between $2,000 and $50,000 to purchasers of certain high fuel economy and alternative fuel vehicles; 33% in incentives for research, development, and production of renewable energy technology; 9% in incentives for research and development of alternative fuel vehicle technology; 4% in incentives for purchase of renewable energy technology; 3% in grants to eight cities for education about these technologies; and 2% in grants to colleges to train students in these technologies. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: State costs of about $11.7 billion over 30 years to pay both the principal ($6 billion) and interest ($5.7 billion) costs on the bond. Payments of about $390 million per year. Increase in state sales tax revenues of an unknown amount, potentially totaling in the tens of millions of dollars, over the period from 2009 to beyond 2018. Increase in local sales tax and VLF revenues of an unknown amount, potentially totaling in the tens of millions of dollars, over the period from 2009 to about 2018-19. Potential state costs of up to about $10 million annually, through about 2018 -19, for state agency administrative costs not funded by the measure. (Initiative 07-0102.)