Print Version (PDF)

AP15:074 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2, 2015

CONTACT: Sam Mahood

(916) 653-6575

 

Proposed Initiative Enters Circulation

Chief of Protocol of California. International Diplomacy. Initiative Statute.

 

SACRAMENTO – Secretary of State Alex Padilla today announced the proponents of a new initiative may begin collecting petition signatures.  

The Attorney General prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on initiative petitions. When the official language is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent and to the Secretary of State, and the initiative may be circulated for signatures. The Secretary of State then provides calendar deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials. The Attorney General’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows: 

CHIEF OF PROTOCOL OF CALIFORNIA. INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Establishes new Office of the Chief of Protocol to advance the foreign policy goals of California. Requires the Secretary of State to appoint a Chief of Protocol who would advise the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of State on matters of national and international diplomatic protocol. Requires the Chief of Protocol to handle certain official diplomatic activities, including planning programs for certain visiting foreign leaders; accompanying the Governor on official visits abroad; representing the Governor at certain diplomatic events; and helping to establish embassies in California and abroad. Requires California to extend diplomatic recognition to member states of the United Nations. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Unknown increase in state costs due to the considerable uncertainties surrounding implementation of this measure. (15-0046.) 

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1707 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 15-0046. 

The proponents for the measure, Sam Chaney and Stuart Webb, must collect the signatures of 365,880 registered voters (five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2014 general election) in order to qualify it for the November 2016 ballot. The proponents have 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials by March 29, 2016.  The proponents can be reached at samchaney@sovereignca.org or stuartwebb@sovereignca.org

###