Bill Text: CA AB2265 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: County ballot measures: impartial analysis.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2016-07-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 104, Statutes of 2016. [AB2265 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2265-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2265	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  104
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 25, 2016
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 25, 2016
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 30, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Mark Stone and Dahle

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to amend Section 9160 of the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2265, Mark Stone. County ballot measures: impartial analysis.
   Existing law requires the county counsel or district attorney of a
county in which an election on a county measure is to be held to
prepare an impartial analysis of the measure showing the effect of
the measure on the existing law and the operation of the measure.
Existing law requires the analysis to include a statement indicating
whether the measure was placed on the ballot by a petition signed by
the requisite number of voters or by the board of supervisors.
   This bill would authorize the county counsel to prepare a summary
of the impartial analysis in a format that answers the questions
"What does a yes vote mean?" and "What does a no vote mean?" for the
measure. The bill would prohibit the summary from exceeding 75 words
for each question and would authorize the summary information to be
included in the voter information portion of the sample ballot.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 9160 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   9160.  (a) If a county measure qualifies for a place on the
ballot, the county elections official shall transmit a copy of the
measure to the county auditor and to the county counsel or to the
district attorney in a county that does not have a county counsel.
   (b) (1) The county counsel or district attorney shall prepare an
impartial analysis of the measure showing the effect of the measure
on the existing law and the operation of the measure. The analysis
shall include a statement indicating whether the measure was placed
on the ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of voters
or by the board of supervisors. The analysis shall be printed
preceding the arguments for and against the measure. The analysis may
not exceed 500 words in length.
   (2) Additionally, the county counsel or district attorney may
prepare a summary of the impartial analysis in a format that answers
the questions "What does a yes vote mean?" and "What does a no vote
mean?" for each measure, with the summary for each question limited
to 75 words or less. If the county counsel or district attorney
prepares a summary pursuant to this paragraph, it may be included in
the voter information portion of the sample ballot.
   (3) In the event the entire text of the measure is not printed on
the ballot, nor in the voter information portion of the sample
ballot, there shall be printed immediately below the impartial
analysis, in no less than 10-point boldface type, a legend
substantially as follows:
   "The above statement is an impartial analysis of Ordinance or
Measure ____. If you desire a copy of the ordinance or measure,
please call the elections official's office at (insert telephone
number) and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you."
   (4) The elections official may, at his or her discretion, add the
following message to the statement in paragraph (3): "You may also
access the full text of the measure on the county Web site at the
following Web site address (insert Web site address)."
   (c) Not later than 88 days prior to an election that includes a
county ballot measure, the board of supervisors may direct the county
auditor to review the measure and determine whether the substance
thereof, if adopted, would affect the revenues or expenditures of the
county. He or she shall prepare a fiscal impact statement which
estimates the amount of any increase or decrease in revenues or costs
to the county if the proposed measure is adopted. The fiscal impact
statement is "official matter" within the meaning of Section 13303,
and shall be printed preceding the arguments for and against the
measure. The fiscal impact statement may not exceed 500 words in
length.