Bill Text: CA SB684 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Initiative measures: withdrawal.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-08-29 - From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 3. Noes 0. Page 4420.) Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A. [SB684 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB684-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Assembly  July 13, 2020
Amended  IN  Senate  January 06, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 684


Introduced by Senator Umberg Hertzberg

February 22, 2019


An act to amend Section 9096 9604 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 684, as amended, Umberg Hertzberg. Elections: voter information guides. Initiative measures: withdrawal.
Existing law allows the proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure to withdraw the measure after filing the petition with the appropriate elections official at any time before the Secretary of State certifies that the measure has qualified for the ballot. Withdrawal of a statewide initiative or referendum measure is effective upon receipt by the Secretary of State of a written notice of withdrawal, signed by all proponents of the measure.
This bill would prohibit a written notice of withdrawal submitted by the proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure from including any conditions that must be satisfied in order for the Secretary of State to deem the withdrawal to be effective, and would require the Secretary of State to reject any notice that purports to impose such a condition on the withdrawal of a measure. The bill would expressly state that these provisions will become operative on January 1, 2021.

Existing law requires the Secretary of State to mail a specified number of copies of the state voter information guide and the full text of state measures to specified elections officials, Members of the Legislature, public libraries, and public schools and educational institutions.

This bill would reduce the number of copies the Secretary of State is required to send to the persons and institutions described above.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YESNO   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 9604 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9604.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person may engage in good faith bargaining between competing interests to secure legislative approval of matters embraced in a statewide or local initiative or referendum measure, and the proponents may, as a result of these negotiations, withdraw the measure at any time before filing the petition with the appropriate elections official.
(b) In addition to the procedure under subdivision (a), the proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure may withdraw the measure after filing the petition with the appropriate elections official at any time before the Secretary of State certifies that the measure has qualified for the ballot pursuant to Section 9033.
(c) Withdrawal of a statewide initiative or referendum measure shall be effective upon receipt by the Secretary of State of a written notice of withdrawal, signed by all proponents of the measure. A written notice of withdrawal submitted by the proponents of a measure pursuant to this subdivision shall not include any conditions that must be satisfied in order for the Secretary of State to deem the withdrawal to be effective. The Secretary of State shall reject any notice that purports to impose such a condition on the withdrawal of a statewide initiative or referendum measure.
(d) Withdrawal of a local initiative or referendum measure shall be effective upon receipt by the appropriate local elections official of a written notice of withdrawal, signed by all proponents of the measure.

SEC. 2.

 Section 1 of this act shall become operative on January 1, 2021.
SECTION 1.Section 9096 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
9096.

(a)As soon as copies of the state voter information guide and copies of the full text of all measures described in subdivision (f) of Section 9086 are available, the Secretary of State shall immediately mail one copy to all of the following persons:

(1)Each county elections official or registrar of voters.

(2)Each city elections official.

(3)Each Member of the Legislature.

(4)The proponents of each ballot measure.

(b)The Secretary of State shall also mail:

(1)Two copies to each public library and branch of each public library.

(2)Five copies to each public high school or other public school teaching at least the 11th and 12th grades, and five copies to each public postsecondary educational institution.

(c)Upon request, and at the discretion of the Secretary of State, additional copies may be furnished to the persons and institutions described in this section.

(d)No later than one business day after receipt of a request from a voter, the Secretary of State shall mail the full text of a state measure described in subdivision (f) of Section 9086 to the voter.

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