Bill Text: CA SB532 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 532

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: San Francisco Bay area toll bridges: tolls: transit operating expenses.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-08-23 - August 23 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. [SB532 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB532-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate May 18, 2023

Amended IN Senate April 25, 2023

Amended IN Senate April 13, 2023

Amended IN Senate March 30, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 532

Introduced by Senator Wiener
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Ting)

February 14, 2023

An act to amend Section 13119 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 532, as amended, Wiener. Ballot measures: local taxes.

Existing law requires that the ballots used when voting upon a measure proposed by a local governing body or submitted to the voters as an initiative or referendum measure, including a measure authorizing the issuance of bonds or the incurrence of debt, have printed on them a true and impartial statement describing the purpose of the measure. If the proposed measure imposes a tax or raises the rate of a tax, existing law requires the ballot to include in the statement of the measure the amount of money to be raised annually and the rate and duration of the tax to be levied. Existing law requires the ballot label contain no more than 75 words.

This bill would exempt from this requirement a measure that imposes or increases a tax with more than one rate or authorizes the issuance of bonds. If the proposed measure imposes or increases a tax with more than one rate, or authorizes the issuance of bonds, this bill would require that the ballot include in the statement of the measure to be voted on an estimate of the amount of money to be raised annually and the rate and the duration of the tax to be levied. This statement, which may contain bullet points, would not count toward any word limit that applies to the statement of the measure. If including the fiscal disclosure in the ballot would result in the total number of words on the ballot label to exceed the 75 word limit and would necessitate the printing of an extra ballot card compared to the ballot labels not exceeding the 75 word limit, the type size of the fiscal disclosure may be reduced by the minimal amount needed to stop from necessitating an extra ballot card, as long as the type size is no smaller than 8-point, and as long as the type size is reduced by the same amount for all ballot measures.

By imposing new duties on local elections officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 13119 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

13119.

(a) The ballots used when voting upon a measure proposed by a local governing body or submitted to the voters as an initiative or referendum measure pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with Section 9000) shall have printed on them the words “Shall the measure (stating the nature thereof) be adopted?” To the right or below the statement of the measure to be voted on, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the measure. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption.

(b) (1) Except for a measure described in paragraph (2), if the proposed measure imposes a tax or raises the rate of a tax, the ballot shall include in the statement of the measure to be voted on an estimate of the amount of money to be raised annually and the rate and duration of the tax to be levied.

(2) If the proposed measure imposes or increases a tax with more than one rate, or authorizes the issuance of bonds, the ballot shall include in the statement of the measure to be voted on a fiscal disclosure that includes an estimate of the amount of money to be raised annually and the rate and duration of the tax to be levied.

(3) This fiscal disclosure in paragraph (2), which may contain bullet points, does not count toward any word limit that applies to the statement of the measure.

(4) If including the fiscal disclosure in the ballot as required by this section would cause the total number of words on the ballot label to exceed the applicable word limit for the ballot label and would necessitate the printing of an extra ballot card compared to the ballot labels not exceeding the applicable word limit, the type size of the fiscal disclosure may be reduced by the minimal amount needed to stop from necessitating an extra ballot card, as long as the type size is no smaller than 8-point, and as long as the type size is reduced by the same amount for all ballot measures.

(c) The statement of the measure shall be a true and impartial synopsis of the purpose of the proposed measure, and shall be in language that is neither argumentative nor likely to create prejudice for or against the measure.

(d) Any estimate or projection included in the statement of the measure pursuant to this section, or included in the statement required pursuant to Section 9401, shall not restrict or limit the tax imposed in accordance with the measure.

(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Local governing body” means the governing body of a city, county, city and county, including a charter city or charter county, or district, including a school district.

(2) “Target” means an object designated as the aim for a voter to make a vote selection.

SEC. 2.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

SEC. 3.

It is the intent of the Legislature that elections officials prepare ballot materials for the March 5, 2024, primary election in compliance with this act.