The Attorney General prepares a circulating title and summary of the chief purpose and points of a proposed initiative measure. Proposed initiative measures are cleared for circulation on the day the circulating title and summary is sent to the initiative proponent(s). No petition may be circulated for signatures before it has been cleared to do so by the Attorney General.

Please note: Counties have 8 working days after a proposed initiative measure's circulation deadline (Elections Code section 9030(b)) to notify the Secretary of State's Office if any petition signatures were received. If no signatures are submitted, a proposed initiative measure will fail on the 9th working day after its circulation deadline.

1938. (22-0004)
REQUIRES THE STATE—RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALS—TO PAY FOR COURT-ORDERED SPOUSAL SUPPORT (ALIMONY), IF LEGISLATURE PROVIDES SUFFICIENT FUNDING. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

Summary Date: 07/20/22 | Circulation Deadline: 01/17/23 | Signatures Required: 623,212
Proponent(s): Steve Clark

Under current law governing divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and child custody proceedings, a court may order one spouse to pay spousal support (alimony) to the other spouse. This measure would instead require the State of California to make court-ordered spousal support payments to the supported spouse, through a fund administered by the California Department of Social Services, provided that the Legislature separately allocates sufficient funding to implement this measure. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: No fiscal effect if the Legislature does not provide sufficient funding to implement the measure. This is because the measure specifies it will not go into effect if sufficient funding is not provided. Increased state costs to make and administer spousal support payments that could be at least a couple billion dollars annually, as well as an unknown net effect on state court costs related to future divorce and legal separation proceedings, if the Legislature provides sufficient funding to implement the measure as required. (22-0004.)

1939. (22-0005)
REFERENDUM CHALLENGING 2022 LAW AUTHORIZING CREATION OF COUNCIL TO SET MINIMUM WAGE AND WORKING STANDARDS FOR FAST-FOOD WORKERS.

Summary Date: 09/16/22 | Circulation Deadline: 12/05/22 | Signatures Required: 623,212
Proponent(s): Amber Evans, Steven McDermed

If the required number of registered voters sign this petition and it is timely filed, a 2022 law will not take effect unless approved at the next statewide general or special election after November 8, 2022. The challenged law:

  • Authorizes creation of Fast Food Council (upon submission of 10,000 fast-food worker signatures) to set working standards and minimum wage (up to $22/hour in 2023, with capped annual increases) at fast-food restaurants with 100+ nationwide locations;
  • Prohibits retaliation against fast-food workers for making certain workplace complaints. 

1940. (22-0006)
REFERENDUM CHALLENGING 2022 LAW PROHIBITING NEW OIL AND GAS WELLS NEAR HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITALS.

Summary Date: 09/29/22 | Circulation Deadline: 12/15/22 | Signatures Required: 623,212
Proponent(s): Jerome Reedy

If the required number of registered voters sign this petition and it is timely filed, a 2022 law will not take effect unless approved at the next statewide general or special election after November 8, 2022. The challenged law:

  • Prohibits most new or modified oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of specified locations, including housing, schools, daycares, parks, healthcare facilities, community resource centers, detention facilities, and businesses open to the public.
  • Requires existing wells in these areas meet specified health, safety, and environmental requirements by January 1, 2025.

*Elections Code section 9034 requires that once proponent(s) of a proposed initiative measure have gathered 25% of the number of signatures required (currently 155,803 for an initiative statute and 249,352 for a constitutional amendment) proponent(s) must immediately certify that they have done so under penalty of perjury to the Secretary of State.

Upon receipt of the certification, the Secretary of State must provide copies of the proposed initiative measure and the circulating title and summary to the Senate and the Assembly. Each house is required to assign the proposed initiative measure to its appropriate committees and hold joint public hearings, at least 131 days before the date of the election at which the measure is to be voted on. However, the Legislature cannot amend the proposed initiative measure or prevent it from appearing on the ballot.