BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 354
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 354 (Dahle)
As Amended July 9, 2013
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |73-0 |(May 20, 2013) |SENATE: |37-0 |(August 19, |
| | | | | |2013) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original Committee Reference: E. & R.
SUMMARY : Requires a statement to be included in the analysis of
a local ballot measure that indicates whether a local ballot
measure was placed on the ballot by a petition signed by the
requisite number of voters or by the legislative body,
respectively. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the analysis of a county ballot measure, prepared by
the county counsel or district attorney, to include a
statement indicating whether the measure was placed on the
ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of voters
or by the board of supervisors.
2)Requires the analysis of a city ballot measure, prepared by
the city attorney, to include a statement indicating whether
the measure was placed on the ballot by a petition signed by
the requisite number of voters or by the governing body of the
city.
3)Requires the analysis of a district ballot measure, prepared
by the county counsel or district attorney as specified, to
include a statement indicating whether the measure was placed
on the ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of
voters or by the governing body of the district.
4)Requires the analysis of a water district ballot measure,
prepared by the legal counsel of the water district or the
county counsel as specified, to include a statement indicating
whether the measure was placed on the ballot by a petition
signed by the requisite number of voters or by the governing
body of the water district.
5)Requires the analysis of a school district measure, prepared
by the county counsel or district attorney, to include a
AB 354
Page 2
statement indicating that the measure was placed on the ballot
by the governing board of the district.
The Senate amendments delete a provision of the bill that would
have required the ballot title and summary of a statewide ballot
measure to include a statement indicating whether the measure
was placed on the ballot by petition or by the Legislature and
make technical changes.
FISCAL EFFECT : None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "Current law does not
require that a source of a qualified ballot initiative be noted
on the ballot or within the ballot summary. AB 354 would simply
require that the source of the initiative be noted in the ballot
summary? This will help voters determine how an initiative got
on the ballot, especially when there are competing issues."
The Senate amendments delete provisions of the bill that would
have required the ballot title and summary of a statewide
measure that appears in the state ballot pamphlet to include a
statement indicating whether the measure was placed on the
ballot by petition or by the Legislature. The bill as passed by
the Senate is consistent with Assembly actions.
Please see the policy committee analysis for a full discussion
on this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Nichole Becker / E. & R. / (916)
319-2094
FN: 0001476