Bill Text: CA SB1251 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: Publication of state financial obligations: Internet Web site and ballot pamphlet.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From committee without further action. [SB1251 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB1251-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 1251	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Moorlach

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to amend Section 9084 of the Elections Code, and to amend
Section 88001 of, and to add Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section
8347) to Division 1 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, relating to
state government.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1251, as introduced, Moorlach. Publication of state financial
obligations: Internet Web site and ballot pamphlet.
   (1) Existing law requires a local agency, if it maintains an
Internet Web site and is required to report specific financial
information to the Controller, to post, in a conspicuous location on
its Internet Web site, information on the annual compensation of its
elected officials, officers, and employees. Existing law authorizes a
local agency to meet this requirement by posting a link to the
Controller's Government Compensation in California Internet Web site
in a conspicuous location on its Internet Web site.
   This bill would establish the California Financial Transparency
Act of 2016 and would require ____  an entity of state government]
to create and maintain a dedicated Web page, hyperlinked to the
homepage of its Internet Web site, that lists specific state
financial obligations.
   (2) The Political Reform Act of 1974 and the Elections Code each
require the Secretary of State to prepare a ballot pamphlet that
contains specific information.
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to include in a
ballot pamphlet a copy of all the information posted on a dedicated
Web page, hyperlinked to the homepage of the Internet Web site of an
unspecified entity in state government, pursuant to the California
Financial Transparency Act of 2016.
   (3) The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure,
provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's
purposes with a 2/3 vote of each house and compliance with specified
procedural requirements.
   The act also provides that, notwithstanding this vote requirement,
the Legislature may amend specified provisions to add to the ballot
pamphlet information regarding candidates or other information.
   This bill, which would require additional information to be
included in the ballot pamphlet, without making other changes to the
act, would therefore require a majority vote.
   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 9084 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   9084.  The ballot pamphlet shall contain all of the following:
   (a) A complete copy of each state measure.
   (b) A copy of the specific constitutional or statutory provision,
if any, that each state measure would repeal or revise.
   (c) A copy of the arguments and rebuttals for and against each
state measure.
   (d) A copy of the analysis of each state measure.
   (e) Tables of contents, indexes, art work, graphics, and other
materials that the Secretary of State determines will make the ballot
pamphlet easier to understand or more useful for the average voter.
   (f) A notice, conspicuously printed on the cover of the ballot
pamphlet, indicating that additional copies of the ballot pamphlet
will be mailed by the county elections official upon request.
   (g) A written explanation of the judicial retention procedure as
required by Section 9083.
   (h) The Voter Bill of Rights pursuant to Section 2300.
   (i) If the ballot contains an election for the office of United
States Senator, information on candidates for United States Senator.
A candidate for United States Senator may purchase the space to place
a statement in the state ballot pamphlet that does not exceed 250
words. The statement may not make any reference to any opponent of
the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with
timeframes and procedures set forth by the Secretary of State for the
preparation of the state ballot pamphlet.
   (j) If the ballot contains a question on the confirmation or
retention of a justice of the Supreme Court, information on justices
of the Supreme Court who are subject to confirmation or retention.
   (k) If the ballot contains an election for the offices of
President and Vice President of the United States, a notice that
refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for
information about candidates for the offices of President and Vice
President of the United States.
   (l) A written explanation of the appropriate election procedures
for party-nominated, voter-nominated, and nonpartisan offices as
required by Section 9083.5.
   (m) A written explanation of the top 10 contributor lists required
by Section 84223 of the Government Code, including a description of
the Internet Web sites where those lists are available to the public.

   (n) A copy of all the information posted on the Web page of the
Internet Web site of the ____ pursuant to the California Financial
Transparency Act of 2016 (Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section 8347)
of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code). 
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section 8347) is added to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 5.3.  CALIFORNIA FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2016


   8347.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
California Financial Transparency Act of 2016.
   8347.10.  The ____ an entity of state government] shall post all
of the following current total amounts on a dedicated Web page that
is hyperlinked to the homepage of its Internet Web site:
   (a) State revenues.
   (b) State expenditures.
   (c) Unfunded state pension liability.
   (d) Unfunded state retiree medical benefit liability.
   (e) Unfunded infrastructure needs.
   (f) Bond debt.
   8347.20.  On or before January 1 and July 1 of each year, the ____
shall update the Web page required by Section 8347.10.
  SEC. 3.  Section 88001 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   88001.  The ballot pamphlet shall contain all of the following:
   (a) A complete copy of each state measure.
   (b) A copy of the specific constitutional or statutory provision,
if any, that would be repealed or revised by each state measure.
   (c) A copy of the arguments and rebuttals for and against each
state measure.
   (d) A copy of the analysis of each state measure.
   (e) Tables of contents, indexes, art work, graphics, and other
materials that the Secretary of State determines will make the ballot
pamphlet easier to understand or more useful for the average voter.
   (f) A notice, conspicuously printed on the cover of the ballot
pamphlet, indicating that additional copies of the ballot pamphlet
will be mailed by the county elections official upon request.
   (g) A written explanation of the judicial retention procedure as
required by Section 9083 of the Elections Code.
   (h) The Voter Bill of Rights pursuant to Section 2300 of the
Elections Code.
   (i) If the ballot contains an election for the office of United
States Senator, information on candidates for United States Senator.
A candidate for United States Senator may purchase the space to place
a statement in the state ballot pamphlet that does not exceed 250
words. The statement may not make any reference to any opponent of
the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with
timeframes and procedures set forth by the Secretary of State for the
preparation of the state ballot pamphlet.
   (j) If the ballot contains a question as to the confirmation or
retention of a justice of the Supreme Court, information on justices
of the Supreme Court who are subject to confirmation or retention.
   (k) If the ballot contains an election for the offices of
President and Vice President of the United States, a notice that
refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for
information about candidates for the offices of President and Vice
President of the United States.
   (l) A written explanation of the appropriate election procedures
for party-nominated, voter-nominated, and nonpartisan offices as
required by Section 9083.5 of the Elections Code.
   (m) A written explanation of the top 10 contributor lists required
by Section 84223, including a description of the Internet Web sites
where those lists are available to the public. 
   (n) A copy of all the information posted on the Web page of the
Internet Web site of the ____ pursuant to the California Financial
Transparency Act of 2016 (Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section 8347)
of Division 1 of Title 2). 
  SEC. 4.  The Legislature finds and declares that Section 3 of this
act, amending Section 88001 of the Government Code, is an amendment
of the Political Reform Act of 1974 that requires the inclusion of
additional information on the ballot pamphlet in accordance with
Section 88007 of the Government Code.