CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 986

Introduced by Senator Seyarto
(Coauthors: Senators Jones, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, and Wilk)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Gallagher and Joe Patterson)

January 30, 2024

An act to amend Section 303 of, and to add Sections 9055 and 9406 to, the Elections Code, relating to elections.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 986, as introduced, Seyarto. Ballot label: bond measure fiscal impact.
Existing law requires the Legislative Analyst to prepare a fiscal analysis of each statewide measure for the ballot pamphlet, and requires the title and summary of a measure that appears on the ballot to contain a summary of the Legislative Analyst’s estimate of the net state and local government fiscal impact. Existing law prescribes the form and content of the ballot label for candidates and measures on the ballot, and requires the ballot label for statewide measures to include a condensed version of the title and summary, including the fiscal impact summary. Existing law requires local governments, when submitting a measure for voter approval for the issuance of bonds that will be secured by an ad valorem tax, to provide voters a statement that includes estimates of the total debt service and tax rates required to fund the bonds, as specified.
This bill would require, for state bond measures and for local measures to approve the issuance of bonds that will be secured by an ad valorem tax, the ballot label to include a summary of the measure’s fiscal impact in a specified form. Because this bill would impose new requirements on local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 303 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

303.
 “Ballot label” means:
(a) For a candidate, the combination of candidate name and candidate designation.
(b) For a statewide measure, a condensed version of the ballot title and summary, including the fiscal impact summary prepared pursuant to Section 9087 of this code and Section 88003 of the Government Code, that is no more than 75 words, followed by a listing of the names of supporters and opponents in the ballot arguments printed in the state voter information guide as described in Section 9051. For a state bond measure, the fiscal impact summary shall appear in the form specified in Section 9055.
(c) For all other measures, the question and statements specified in Section 13119 or the question specified in Section 13120, in addition to the statement specified in Section 9406, as applicable.
(d) For an advisory vote, the description as indicated in Section 9603.

SEC. 2.

 Section 9055 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

9055.
 For state bond measures that are submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection, the summary of the Legislative Analyst’s estimate of the net state and local government fiscal impact that appears on the ballot label shall be in substantially the following form: State costs of about $______ to pay off both the principal ($______ ) and interest ($______ ) on the bonds. Payments averaging about $______ per year for __ years.

SEC. 3.

 Section 9406 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

9406.
 The ballot label for an election in connection with a bond issue specified in Section 9400 shall include, based on the best estimate from official sources used to prepare the materials specified in Section 9401, a summary of the bond measure’s fiscal impact. The summary shall be in substantially the following form: Costs to (name of jurisdiction proposing to issue bonds) of about $______ to pay off both the principal ($______ ) and interest ($______ ) on the bonds. Payments averaging about $______ per year for __ years.

SEC. 4.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.