Bill Text

Bill Information


Add To My Favorites | print page

AB-1499 Elections: ballot order for statewide measures.(2011-2012)

SHARE THIS: share this bill in Facebook share this bill in Twitter
AB1499:v96#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1499
CHAPTER 30

An act to amend Section 13115 of the Elections Code, relating to elections, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

[ Approved by Governor  June 27, 2012. Filed with Secretary of State  June 27, 2012. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1499, Committee on Budget. Elections: ballot order for statewide measures.
Existing law specifies the order in which statewide ballot measures are required to appear on the ballot.
This bill would require that bond measures and constitutional amendments, including those proposed by initiative, appear on the ballot before all other legislative, initiative, and referendum measures.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares that bond measures and constitutional amendments should have priority on the ballot because of the profound and lasting impact these measures can have on our state. Bond measures create debts against the state treasury that obligate the resources of future Californians. Constitutional amendments make changes to our state’s fundamental principles and protections. In recognition of their significance, bond measures and constitutional amendments should be placed at the top of the ballot to ensure that the voters can carefully weigh the consequences of these important measures.
(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the Secretary of State has received funding in the Budget Act of 2012, and an appropriation contained herein, to provide direction to counties regarding the preparation of ballots, and to prepare the ballot pamphlet, in a manner that is consistent with the changes to the Elections Code provided by this act.

SEC. 2.

 Section 13115 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

13115.
 The order in which all state measures that are to be submitted to the voters shall appear upon the ballot is as follows:
(a) Bond measures, including those proposed by initiative, in the order in which they qualify.
(b) Constitutional amendments, including those proposed by initiative, in the order in which they qualify.
(c) Legislative measures, other than those described in subdivision (a) or (b), in the order in which they are approved by the Legislature.
(d) Initiative measures, other than those described in subdivision (a) or (b), in the order in which they qualify.
(e) Referendum measures, in the order in which they qualify.

SEC. 3.

 The sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Secretary of State to implement the requirements of this act.

SEC. 4.

  This act is a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section 12 of Article IV of the California Constitution, has been identified as related to the budget in the Budget Bill, and shall take effect immediately.