BILL NUMBER: AB 1808 CHAPTERED 07/17/08 CHAPTER 137 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 17, 2008 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 17, 2008 PASSED THE SENATE JULY 3, 2008 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY MAY 8, 2008 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2008 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2008 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Huff JANUARY 16, 2008 An act to amend Section 9084 of, and to add Section 13307.5 to, the Elections Code, and to amend Section 88001 of the Government Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1808, Huff. Ballot statements: candidates for federal office. Existing law permits candidates for nonpartisan elective office in local agencies to prepare and submit to the elections official a candidate's statement of specified length and subject to specified conditions and at the candidate's expense, to appear in the voter's pamphlet accompanying the sample ballot. The existing Political Reform Act of 1974 also allows candidates for statewide elective office and candidates for the State Senate and Assembly to purchase the space to place a statement in the state ballot pamphlet or voter information portion of the sample ballot, as appropriate, of specified length and subject to specified conditions. This bill would allow candidates for United States Senator and United States Representative to purchase space to place a statement in the state ballot pamphlet and the voter information portion of the sample ballot, respectively, of a specified length and subject to specified conditions. By placing new duties on local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill also would require the Secretary of State to include in the ballot pamphlet, for elections that include a question as to the confirmation or retention of justices of the Supreme Court, information on the justices, and, for elections that include the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, a notice that refers voters to its Internet Web site for information about the candidates for those offices. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 9084 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 9084. The ballot pamphlet shall contain all of the following: (a) A complete copy of each state measure. (b) A copy of the specific constitutional or statutory provision, if any, that each state measure would repeal or revise. (c) A copy of the arguments and rebuttals for and against each state measure. (d) A copy of the analysis of each state measure. (e) Tables of contents, indexes, art work, graphics, and other materials that the Secretary of State determines will make the ballot pamphlet easier to understand or more useful for the average voter. (f) A notice, conspicuously printed on the cover of the ballot pamphlet, indicating that additional copies of the ballot pamphlet will be mailed by the county elections official upon request. (g) A written explanation of the judicial retention procedure as required by Section 9083. (h) The Voter Bill of Rights pursuant to Section 2300. (i) If the ballot contains an election for the office of United States Senator, information on candidates for United States Senator. A candidate for United States Senator may purchase the space to place a statement in the state ballot pamphlet that does not exceed 250 words. The statement may not make any reference to any opponent of the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with timeframes and procedures set forth by the Secretary of State for the preparation of the state ballot pamphlet. (j) If the ballot contains a question on the confirmation or retention of a justice of the Supreme Court, information on justices of the Supreme Court who are subject to confirmation or retention. (k) If the ballot contains an election for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, a notice that refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for information about candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States. SEC. 2. Section 13307.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read: 13307.5. A candidate for United States Representative may purchase the space to place a statement in the voter information portion of the sample ballot that does not exceed 250 words. The statement may not make reference to any opponent of the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with the timeframes and procedures set forth in this code for the preparation of the voter information portion of the sample ballot. SEC. 3. Section 88001 of the Government Code is amended to read: 88001. The ballot pamphlet shall contain all of the following: (a) A complete copy of each state measure. (b) A copy of the specific constitutional or statutory provision, if any, that would be repealed or revised by each state measure. (c) A copy of the arguments and rebuttals for and against each state measure. (d) A copy of the analysis of each state measure. (e) Tables of contents, indexes, art work, graphics and other materials that the Secretary of State determines will make the ballot pamphlet easier to understand or more useful for the average voter. (f) A notice, conspicuously printed on the cover of the ballot pamphlet, indicating that additional copies of the ballot pamphlet will be mailed by the county elections official upon request. (g) A written explanation of the judicial retention procedure as required by Section 9083 of the Elections Code. (h) The Voter Bill of Rights pursuant to Section 2300 of the Elections Code. (i) If the ballot contains an election for the office of United States Senator, information on candidates for United States Senator. A candidate for United States Senator may purchase the space to place a statement in the state ballot pamphlet that does not exceed 250 words. The statement may not make any reference to any opponent of the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with timeframes and procedures set forth by the Secretary of State for the preparation of the state ballot pamphlet. (j) If the ballot contains a question as to the confirmation or retention of a justice of the Supreme Court, information on justices of the Supreme Court who are subject to confirmation or retention. (k) If the ballot contains an election for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, a notice that refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for information about candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States. SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.