BILL NUMBER: AB 609	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 13, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cristina Garcia

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to add Section 8020.5 to the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 609, as amended, Cristina Garcia. Members of the Legislature:
residency.
   The California Constitution requires that a person reside within
the legislative district for which he or she seeks election as a
Member of the Legislature for one year immediately preceding the
election.
   This bill would permit a candidate for Member of the Legislature
to file a statement with the Secretary of State in which the
candidate voluntarily agrees that, if elected, he or she will
continue to reside within the district from which he or she was
elected during his or her term of office. The bill would 
require   authorize  the Secretary of State to
 designate in the state ballot pamphlet those candidates who
have voluntarily agreed to this continuing residency requirement.
  post on his or her Internet Web site voluntary
statements of continuing residency filed with the secretary, as
described above   . 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, in
order to ensure that Members of the Legislature adequately and
effectively represent their constituents, those elected to the
Legislature should continue to reside in the districts that they are
elected to represent during their terms of office.
  SEC. 2.  Section 8020.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
   8020.5.  (a) A candidate for Member of the Legislature may file a
statement with the Secretary of State in which the candidate
voluntarily agrees that, if elected, he or she will continue to
reside within the district from which he or she was elected during
his or her term of office. A person does not violate the voluntary
agreement if, after being elected for a term of office, the
boundaries of the district from which he or she was elected are
changed during that term of office so as to exclude his or her
residence from the district.
   (b) If a candidate for Member of the Legislature elects to file
the voluntary statement of continuing residency pursuant to
subdivision (a), the statement shall be filed with his or her
nomination documents.
   (c) The Secretary of State  shall designate in the state
ballot pamphlet those candidates for Member of the Legislature who
have voluntarily agreed to the continuing residency requirement set
forth in this section.   may post on his or her Internet
Web site voluntary statements of continuing residency filed pursuant
to subdivision (a).