BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
Senator Mark Leno, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 120 Hearing Date: April 26,
2016
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|Author: |Committee on Budget |
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|Version: |April 21, 2016 As amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant|Samantha Lui |
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Subject: Budget Act of 2015
Summary: Contains amendments to the 2015 Budget Act to include new
appropriations to the Secretary of State, related to the state's
June 7, 2016, primary election.
Proposed
Law: This bill includes the following.
1)Provides $16.3 million General Fund to support counties that
request assistance for costs incurred between April 26, 2016,
and July 15, 2016, in conducting the June 7, 2016, primary
election and in verifying statewide initiative signatures.
2)Approves up to $115,000 General Fund to the Secretary of State
for state operations costs.
3)Requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to establish a
reimbursement formula, based on the total number of signatures
submitted to the requesting county and the number of eligible
voters in that county. This formula must be provided to each
county by May 1, 2016.
4)Requires a county elections official to meet all of the
following criteria to be eligible for reimbursement:
a) Comply with existing law, including: establishing
precinct boundaries, designating polling places, providing
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ballots and other supplies to each precinct, and posting
notices in the polling place, among others.
b) Demonstrate that for all statewide initiative petitions
filed in that county on or before May 20, 2016, that the
county met requirements and provided the total number of
signatures to the SOS no later than May 27, 2016; completed
the determination of whether a petition qualified for the
ballot; and provided to the SOS, no later than midnight on
June 30, 2016, the results of the random sampling of each
petition.
c) Prepare, sign, and certify a report as true and
accurate, costs associated with the 2016 primary election
and with verifying statewide initiative signatures.
d) Submit to the Controller, on or before August 1, 2016,
the certified report of costs, detailed invoices (e.g.,
timesheets, salary information), and other information to
verify county costs and county's compliance with these
requirements.
5)Requires the State Controller to reimburse a county after
receiving the county elections official's certified report of
costs.
6)Makes a technical amendment removing this bill from the list
of budget trailer bills.
Fiscal
Effect: This bill provides $16.3 million General Fund in local
assistance to assist counties with the upcoming June 7, 2016,
primary election and the verification of signatures. In
addition, the bill appropriates up to $115,000 General Fund to
the Secretary of State for state operations costs.
Support: None on file.
Opposed: None on file.
Comments: Existing law requires counties to fund most elections expenses
and establishes a county elections official's role in conducting
elections, such as supervising voter registration, processing
the verification of signatures on statewide initiative petitions
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to qualify for a ballot, establishing precinct boundaries, and
equipping polling places on election day. The state funds some
elections costs, primarily the printing of the state voter
information guide (VIG), which provides information about ballot
measures and candidate statements.
The SOS, counties, and county elections officials raise concerns
with current elections funding and capacity related to the June
7, 2016, primary election. As county elections officials prepare
for the June primary, they also verify signatures on initiative
petitions and assess whether a measure qualifies for the
November 2016 ballot. As of April 14, 2016, eight measures have
qualified for the November ballot, and another 15 remain in
circulation and may qualify for the November ballot. Given the
anticipated higher voter turnout during a presidential primary
election and workload associated with verifying signatures on
petitions in a timely manner, the bill provides additional funds
to counties, and establishes a mechanism to reimburse counties
that meet specified requirements, to assist them in conducting
the June 7 primary election and in signature verification.
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