BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1202
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SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1202 (DeSaulnier)
As Amended June 29, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :21-14
ELECTIONS 6-1 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Fong, Adams, Gatto, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Bradford, |
| |Mendoza, Saldana, Swanson | |Charles Calderon, Coto, |
| | | |Davis, De Leon, Gatto, |
| | | |Hall, Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Bill Berryhill |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the state ballot pamphlet to contain
information about the largest contributors in support of each
ballot measure that will appear on the ballot. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Requires the state ballot pamphlet to include, immediately
below the analysis of a state ballot measure prepared by the
Legislative Analyst, a list of the five highest contributors
of $50,000 or more to each primarily formed committee
supporting the measure and the total amount of each of their
contributions.
2)Requires the list to be followed by a statement that the list
reflects only the highest contributors of $50,000 or more as
of 110 days before election day.
3)Provides that if a contributor is a committee controlled by a
candidate, the name of the candidate shall be listed.
4)Provides that if a contributor is a sponsored committee, the
name of the sponsor shall be listed.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
SB 1202
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Committee, minor General Fund costs for additional printing in
the state ballot pamphlet. For every additional page required
due to this bill's requirement, the cost would be $66,000.
However, the Secretary of State's office formats the Voter
Information Guide in 16-page increments, thus there is often
blank space available for additional information as required by
SB 1202.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "In recent years, interests
have increasingly turned to California's initiative system to
amend the California Constitution or state statutes to benefit
themselves. While California law does require that any
advertisement for or against any ballot measure shall include a
disclosure statement identifying any person whose cumulative
contributions are $50,000 or more, SB 1202 will extend
contributor disclosure to the Voter Information Guide received
by each voter before election day."
Because the SOS can begin sending the state ballot pamphlet out
to voters on the 40th day before an election, and due to the
large amount of lead-time necessary to produce the state ballot
pamphlet and to have that pamphlet on public display prior to
final production, this bill would include information about
contributors to primarily formed committees supporting state
ballot measures only as of 110 days prior to the election.
While the 110-day cutoff period accommodates the schedule by
which the state ballot pamphlet must be finalized prior to
printing, it also means that most, if not all spending intended
to influence voters after a measure has qualified for the ballot
will not be disclosed in the state ballot pamphlet. As a
result, the information contained in the ballot pamphlet could
be outdated, or could give voters a misleading picture of the
true supporters of a state ballot measure.
On the other hand, because the expenses associated with
qualifying a statewide initiative for the ballot usually exceed
$1 million, this bill could result in voters being given greater
information in the state ballot pamphlet about those entities
responsible for funding the effort to qualify a measure for the
ballot.
Analysis Prepared by : Ethan Jones / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094
SB 1202
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