BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1233
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 8, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1233 (Padilla) - As Amended: August 6, 2012
Policy Committee: ElectionsVote:5-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
The bill requires the title and summary of a proposed state
initiative or referendum or a proposed recall petition, if
circulated in a county subject to language requirements of the
federal Voting Rights Act (VRA), to be translated into the
applicable languages for that county. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the proponents, when submitting the text of a
proposed initiative, referendum, or recall, to submit a list
of counties where the petition will be circulated that are
covered under the VRA.
2)Requires the state Attorney General (AG), in the case of an
initiative or referendum title and summary, or the Secretary
of State (SOS), in the case of a recall, to prepare a
translation to be used with the petition in each applicable
language, as specified.
3)Requires the circulator of a petition in one of the covered
counties to attach the translated title and summary to the
petition and to make it available to each person solicited in
a particular language to sign the petition.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Annual General Fund costs up to $150,000 to the AG for one
position and for translation services, based on an average of
105 proposed measures annually, and estimated costs of about
$390 per measure to translate into nine languages.
2)Given the small number of recall petitions, costs to the SOS
would be negligible.
SB 1233
Page 2
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . Current law requires the SOS to translate all
qualified ballot titles and summary of initiatives, referenda,
and recalls for the state voter pamphlet. This bill requires
that a translation of the title and summary of proposed
measures that will be circulated for qualification in counties
covered under the VRA. Proponents of SB 1233 (voting rights
and civil rights groups) argue that limited English-proficient
voters are left out of the process of determining which
measures qualify for the ballot.
2)Practical Application of the Bill's Requirements . In total, 28
of the state's 58 counties are required to provide voting
materials in at least one language other than English, and
eight counties are required to provide these materials in one
other language in addition to English and Spanish. Los Angeles
County is required to provide voting materials in nine
languages besides English, and since proponents of a statewide
measure would likely need to circulate a petition in the
largest county, every proposal likely would need to be
translated into those nine languages.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081