FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2023

Proposed Initiative Enters Circulation

Eliminates Students’ Rights to Participate in School Activities Consistent with their Gender Identity.
Initiative Statute.
 

SACRAMENTO, CA – Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber announced that the proponent of a new initiative was cleared to begin collecting petition signatures on November 1, 2023.

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 a calendar of deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials. The Attorney General’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows:

ELIMINATES STUDENTS’ RIGHTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES CONSISTENT WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Repeals 2013 state law allowing students to participate in school activities and use school facilities consistent with their gender identity. Requires public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to:

  • · prohibit transgender female students in grades 7 and higher from participating in female sports; and
  • · restrict use of gender-segregated facilities (e.g., bathrooms, locker rooms) only to persons assigned that gender at birth.

For purposes of the measure’s restrictions, defines “male” and “female” exclusively by reference to certain reproductive traits. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Minor administrative and workload costs to schools, colleges, and universities, which could range from no effect to a few millions of dollars initially, depending on whether the measure can be legally implemented. If legally implemented, there could be potential, but unknown, cost pressures related to federal fiscal penalties if the measure results in schools, colleges, or universities being deemed out of compliance with federal law.

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1961 and the Attorney General's tracking number is 23-0019A1.

The proponent of the measure, Jonathan Zachreson, must collect signatures of 546,651 registered voters (five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2022 general election) in order for the measure to become eligible for the ballot. The proponent has 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than April 29, 2024. The proponent may be contacted at info@protectkidsca.com and (916) 900-6121. 

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