BILL NUMBER: AB 2796	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2010
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 13, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Elections and Redistricting (Fong
(Chair), Adams (Vice Chair), Coto, Mendoza, Saldana, and Swanson)

                        MARCH 25, 2010

   An act to amend Sections 9166, 9501, and 9503, relating to
Elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2796, Committee on Elections and Redistricting. Elections:
ballot measures.
   Under existing law, whenever a county measure or a school measure
qualifies for the ballot, arguments for or against the measure may be
submitted to the voters of the county or district. An argument for
or against a county measure or a school measure may be submitted to
elections officials by any member or members of the governing board
authorized by the board to submit an argument.
   This bill would delete the requirement that a member of the board
be authorized by the board in order to submit an argument to
elections officials for or against a county measure or a school
measure.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 9166 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   9166.  If more than one argument for or more than one argument
against any county measure is submitted to the county elections
official within the time prescribed, the county elections official
shall select one of the arguments in favor and one of the arguments
against the measure for printing and distribution to the voters. In
selecting the argument the county elections official shall give
preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the
following:
   (a) The board of supervisors or a member or members of the board.
   (b) The individual voter, or bona fide association of citizens, or
combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide
sponsors or proponents of the measure.
   (c) Bona fide associations of citizens.
   (d) Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.
  SEC. 2.  Section 9501 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   9501.  (a) The governing board of the district or any member or
members of the board, or any individual voter who is eligible to vote
on the measure, or bona fide association of citizens, or any
combination of such voters and associations may file a written
argument for or against any school measure. No argument shall exceed
300 words in length. The elections official shall cause an argument
for and an argument against the measure, if submitted, to be printed,
and shall include the arguments, preceded by the analysis, in the
voter information pamphlet that accompanies the sample ballot.
   (b) Printed arguments submitted to voters in accordance with this
section shall be titled either "Argument in Favor of Measure ____" or
"Argument Against Measure ____," accordingly, the blank spaces being
filled in only with the letter or number, if any, designating the
measure. At the discretion of the elections official, the word
"Proposition" may be substituted for the word "Measure" in the
titles. Words used in the title shall not be counted when determining
the length of any measure.
  SEC. 3.  Section 9503 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   9503.  If more than one argument for or more than one argument
against any school measure is submitted to the person conducting the
election within the time prescribed, the person conducting the
election shall select one of the arguments in favor and one of the
arguments against the measure for printing and distribution to the
voters. In selecting the arguments, the person conducting the
election shall give preference and priority, in the order named, to
the arguments of the following:
   (a) The governing board of the district or a member or members of
the board.
   (b) The individual voter, or bona fide associations of citizens,
or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide
sponsors or proponents of the measure.
   (c) Bona fide associations of citizens.
   (d) Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.