BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



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          Date of Hearing:   March 27, 2012

                            ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUDGET
                               Bob Blumenfield, Chair
           SB 83 (Budget and Fiscal Review Committee) - As Amended:  March 
                                      26, 2012
           
          SUBJECT  :  Citizens Redistricting Commission.

           SUMMARY  :  This supplemental appropriations bill (deficiency 
          bill) appropriates $339,000 from the General Fund (GF) to the 
          Citizens Redistricting Commission and authorizes additional 
          budget authorizations for the Commission under conditions 
          specified by the bill relating to potential litigation and 
          personnel costs.  Specifically,  this bill  :

          1)Appropriates $339,000 GF to the Citizens Redistricting 
            Commission for operational costs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-12.  
            The operational costs included in this bill are already 
            reflected in the Administration's revised current-year 
            expenditure projections; therefore, those costs do not add to 
            the current budget deficit.

          2)Authorizes the Director of Finance, subject to review by the 
            Joint Legislative Budget Committee, to increase the 
            Commission's budget by up to $659,000 if the Commission 
            demonstrates that additional funding is necessary during the 
            2011-12 FY for litigation to defend any action regarding a 
            certified final map.

          3)Authorizes the Director of Finance, subject to review by the 
            Joint Legislative Budget Committee, to increase the 
            Commission's budget by up to $163,000 if the Commission 
            demonstrates that additional funding is necessary during the 
            2011-12 FY for costs related to unemployment insurance, and 
            vacation leave balance payments for staff who terminate 
            employment with the State.   

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  This bill has a General Fund cost of $339,000.  
          This bill also authorizes the Director of Finance, subject to 
          Joint Legislative Budget Committee review, to appropriate up to 
          $822,000 more from the GF, if necessary.  

           COMMENTS  :  Voters in November 2008 approved Proposition 11, 
          which established a Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw 








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          new political district lines every ten years for California 
          legislative, congressional and Board of Equalization districts.  
          The initiative requires the Legislature to make necessary 
          appropriations to fund the Commission's operations, including 
          litigation support, during the three-year redistricting process 
          that began in 2009-10.  The Budget Act of 2011 allocated 
          $400,000 GF for Commission operations, and up to $1.5 million, 
          GF for potential litigation costs.  The Commission received 
          $1.07 million in November 2011 for litigation-related expenses.

          On February 7, 2012, the Department of Finance notified the 
          Joint Legislative Budget Committee of a request for additional 
          funding from the Citizens Redistricting Commission.  Four legal 
          challenges have been brought against the Commission-designed 
          maps, with all four cases decided in the Commission's favor.  

          After extensive discussions, the Joint Legislative Budget 
          Committee on March 15, 2012 indicated support for $339,000 in 
          additional operational costs.  In addition, the Committee 
          indicated support for provisional language to allow the 
          Commission more funding if additional costs arise during the 
          2011-12 fiscal year.  Included in this is up to $659,000 to 
          defend any appeals related to the four lawsuits resolved in the 
          Commission's favor, and up to $163,000 to cover possible costs 
          related to unemployment insurance and vacation leave balances as 
          the Commission concludes its duties and staff terminate 
          employment.

          Combined with previous appropriations and budget augmentations, 
          this appropriation would bring the Commission's total authorized 
          funding for the current redistricting process to $6,184,000. 

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  : 

           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Mark Martin / BUDGET / (916) 319-2099 










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