FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2023
Proposed Initiative Enters Circulation
Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth.
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 29, 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:
RESTRICTS RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
· Requires public and private schools and colleges to: restrict gender-segregated facilities like bathrooms to persons assigned that gender at birth; prohibit transgender female students (grades 7+) from participating in female sports. Repeals law allowing students to participate in activities and use facilities consistent with their gender identity.
· Requires schools to notify parents whenever a student under 18 asks to be treated as a gender differing from school records without exception for student safety.
· Prohibits gender-affirming health care for transgender patients under 18, even if parents consent or treatment is medically recommended.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Potentially minor savings in state and local health care costs of up to 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. Minor administrative and workload costs to schools, colleges, and universities, up to several millions of dollars initially. Potential, but unknown, cost pressures to state and local governments related to federal fiscal penalties if the measure results in federally funded schools, colleges, universities, or health care providers being deemed out of compliance with federal law. (23-0027A2.)
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1969 and the Attorney General's tracking number is 23-0027A2.
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 May 28, 2024. The proponent may be contacted at info@protectkidsca.com and (916) 900-6121.
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