Bill Text: CA AB535 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Initiatives: ballot title and summary.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB535 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB535-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 535	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Grove

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2015

   An act to amend Section 9051 of the Elections Code, relating to
initiative measures.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 535, as introduced, Grove. Initiatives: ballot title and
summary.
   Existing law requires the Attorney General to provide a ballot
label and a ballot title for each measure to be submitted to the
voters at a statewide election. Existing law requires the Attorney
General to prepare a summary of the chief purposes and points of each
statewide ballot measure as part of the ballot title.
   This bill would impose specified requirements with respect to the
content of the ballot title and summary required to be prepared by
the Attorney General.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 9051 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   9051.  (a) (1) The ballot title and summary may differ from the
legislative, circulating, or other title and summary of the measure
and shall not exceed 100 words, not including the fiscal impact
statement.
   (2) The ballot title and summary shall include a summary of the
Legislative Analyst's estimate of the net state and local government
fiscal impact prepared pursuant to Section 9087 of this code and
Section 88003 of the Government Code.
   (b) The ballot label shall not contain more than 75 words and
shall be a condensed version of the ballot title and summary
including the financial impact summary prepared pursuant to Section
9087 of this code and Section 88003 of the Government Code.
   (c) In providing the ballot title and summary, the Attorney
General shall give a true and impartial statement of the purpose of
the measure in such language that the ballot title and summary shall
neither be an argument, nor be likely to create prejudice, for or
against the proposed measure.  The ballot title and summary shall
also satisfy all of the following:  
   (1) Be written in clear and concise terms, understandable to the
average voter, and in an objective and nonpartisan manner, avoiding
the use of technical terms whenever possible.  
   (2) If the measure imposes or increases a tax or fee, the type and
amount of the tax or fee shall be described.  
   (3) If the measure repeals existing law in any substantial manner,
that fact shall be included.  
   (4) If the measure is contingent on the passage or defeat of
another measure or statute, that fact shall be included.  
   (d) The Legislature shall provide the Attorney General with
sufficient funding for administrative and other support relating to
preparation of the ballot title and summary for initiative measures,
including, but not limited to, plain-language specialists. 

   (d) 
    (e)  The Attorney General shall invite and consider
public comment in preparing each ballot title and summary.