LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 319, as amended, Niello. Elections: ballot titles.
Existing law requires the Attorney General, upon receipt of a
draft of a petition for a proposed initiative or referendum, to
prepare a title and summary of the proposed measure. Under existing
law, the Attorney General is required to determine the effect of a
proposed initiative measure on revenues and expenditures of the state
or local government. If the Attorney General determines that a
proposed measure would affect state or local revenues or
expenditures, he or she must include in the title either the estimate
of the amount of change in state or local revenues or costs or an
opinion as to whether a substantial net change in state or local
finances would result if the proposed initiative is adopted. Existing
law requires the Department of Finance and the Joint Legislative
Budget Committee to prepare jointly the fiscal estimate that is
included in the title.
This bill would require the Legislative Analyst, instead of the
Attorney General, to prepare the ballot title and summary for all
measures submitted to the voters of the state and would require the
Legislative Analyst, instead of the Department of Finance and the
Joint Legislative Budget Committee, to prepare any fiscal estimate or
opinion required by a proposed initiative measure.
The bill would make its operation contingent upon the approval by
the voters of an unspecified amendment to the California
Constitution ACA 20 of the 2009-10 Regular Session
.

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Comments/questions on AB 319 (Niello): Elections: ballot titles.