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

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2265	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


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, as introduced, 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.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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)  Whenever   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  has no   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.  
   In 
    (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." 
   The 
    (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.