BILL NUMBER: AB 2597	CHAPTERED  06/06/02

	CHAPTER  53
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 6, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JUNE 5, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 23, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 11, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Elections, Reapportionment and
Constitutional Amendments (Longville (Chair), Cardenas, Cardoza,
Firebaugh, Horton, Kehoe, Oropeza, Shelley, and Vargas)

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2002

   An act to amend Sections 9255 and 9265 of the Elections Code,
relating to municipal elections.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2597, Committee on Elections, Reapportionment and
Constitutional Amendments.    Municipal elections.
   Existing law requires that specified charter proposals be
submitted to the voters, including charter proposals to amend or
repeal a city charter proposed by a petition signed by 15% of the
registered voters of the city, and charter proposals to amend or
repeal of a city and county charter proposed by a petition signed by
10% of the registered voters of the city and county.  Existing law
requires that the number of registered voters be determined according
to the county elections official's last official report of
registration to the Secretary of State.
   This bill would require that the report of registration used for
this determination be the report effective at the time that the
proponents of a measure proposing to amend a charter give notice of
their intent to circulate the petition.
   Existing law requires that a petition to amend a municipal charter
be filed with the elections official not later than 200 days after
the date on which the notice of intent to circulate the petition was
published or posed, or both.
   This bill would require that the petition be filed within 180 days
from the date of receipt of the title and summary, or after
termination of an action for a writ of mandate requiring that the
ballot title or summary be amended and, if applicable, receipt of an
amended title or summary, or both, whichever comes later.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 9255 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

   9255.  (a) The following city or city and county charter proposals
shall be submitted to the voters at either a special election called
for that purpose, at any established municipal election date, or at
any established election date pursuant to Section 1000, provided that
there are at least 88 days before the election:
   (1) A charter proposed by a charter commission, whether elected or
appointed by a governing body.  A charter commission may also submit
a charter pursuant to Section 34455 of the Government Code.
   (2) An amendment or repeal of a charter proposed by the governing
body of a city or a city and county on its own motion.
   (3) An amendment or repeal of a city charter proposed by a
petition signed by 15 percent of the registered voters of the city.
   (4) An amendment or repeal of a city and county charter proposed
by a petition signed by 10 percent of the registered voters of the
city and county.
   (5) A recodification of the charter proposed by the governing body
on its own motion, provided that the recodification does not, in any
manner, substantially change the provisions of the charter.
   (b) Charter proposals by the governing body and charter proposals
by petition of the voters may be submitted at the same election.
   (c) The total number of registered voters of the city or city and
county shall be determined according to the county elections official'
s last official report of registration to the Secretary of State that
was effective at the time the notice required pursuant to Section
9256 was given.
  SEC. 2.  Section 9265 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   9265.  The petition shall be filed with the elections official by
the proponents, or by any person or persons authorized in writing by
the proponents.  All sections of the petition shall be filed at one
time, and a petition section submitted subsequently may not be
accepted by the elections official.  The petition shall be filed  (1)
within 180 days from the date of receipt of the title and summary,
or (2) after termination of any action for a writ of mandate pursuant
to Section 9204, and, if applicable, receipt of an amended title or
summary, or both, whichever comes later.