BILL NUMBER: AB 2430	CHAPTERED  09/21/06

	CHAPTER  378
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 21, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 21, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 21, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 16, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 8, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Umberg
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Leno)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2006

   An act to add Section 9054 to the Elections Code, relating to
ballot measures.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2430, Umberg  Ballot materials: translations.
   Existing federal law, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, requires
every state or political subdivision meeting certain criteria to
provide bilingual voting materials to citizens of language minorities
to ensure their full participation in the electoral process.
   The California Constitution and existing state law require the
Legislature to prohibit improper practices that affect elections,
including a citizen's right to vote.
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to provide a
translation of the ballot title and the condensed statement of the
ballot title in a language other than English to the local elections
official whenever a city, county, or city and county is required to
provide a translation of ballot materials in a language other than
English by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 for each state
measure submitted to the voters in a statewide election not later
than 68 days prior to that election.
   The bill would also require the local elections official to use
that translation, as specified, and would prohibit him or her from
selecting or contracting with another person to provide translations
of the same text.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 9054 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
   9054.  (a) Whenever a city, county, or city and county is required
by Section 203 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973aa-1a) or Section 4(f)(4) (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1973b(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 to
provide a translation of ballot materials in a language other than
English, the Secretary of State shall provide a translation of the
ballot title prepared pursuant to Section 9050 and of the condensed
statement of the ballot title prepared pursuant to Section 13247 in
that language to the city, county, or city and county for each state
measure submitted to the voters in a statewide election not later
than 68 days prior to that election.
   (b) When preparing a translation in a language other than English
pursuant to subdivision (a), the Secretary of State shall consult
with an advisory body consisting of language experts and nonpartisan
organizations that advocate on behalf of, or provide services to,
individuals that speak that language.
   (c) All translations prepared pursuant to this section shall be
made available for public examination in the same time and manner as
the ballot pamphlet is made available for public examination in
accordance with Section 88006 of the Government Code and Section 9092
of this code.
   (d) The local elections official shall use that translation of the
condensed statement of the ballot title on the sample ballot and the
official ballot and may not select or contract with another person
to provide translations of the same text.