FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2023

Proposed Initiative Enters Circulation

Prohibits Gender-Affirming Health Care for Minors.
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:

PROHIBITS GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE FOR MINORS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Prohibits health care providers from providing transgender patients under 18 with medical care to affirm a gender identity that differs from the minor’s gender assigned at birth. Prohibits such treatment even if parents consent or it is medically recommended for the minor’s mental or physical wellbeing. Allows limited exceptions if minor: (1) has certain narrowly defined medical conditions; (2) began a continuous course of treatment before January 1, 2025; or (3) wishes to reverse prior treatment. Health care providers who violate the prohibition could lose their license or certification. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: To the extent the measure can be legally implemented, potentially relatively minor savings up to the millions of dollars annually from no longer paying for prohibited services for individuals under the age of 18. These savings could be affected by many other impacts, such as individuals seeking treatment later in life. Potential, but unknown, cost pressure to state and local governments related to federal fiscal penalties if the measure results in providers being deemed out of compliance with federal law. (23-0020A1.)

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1962 and the Attorney General's tracking number is 23-0020A1.

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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CONTACT:
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