June 15, 2005 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA 801 12th Street, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95814   (916) 442-9210/ FAX 916-442-7352/lwvc@lwvc.org

BILL NUMBER, AUTHOR, POSITION	DESCRIPTION	ACTION SUMMARY/STATUS
HONORING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
ACR 40 Lieber SUPPORT	Recognizes the origins and accomplishments of the League of Women Voters and memorializes the 85th anniversary of the League.	Passed by Assembly Rules Committee (8-0); passed by Assembly. In Senate Rules Committee.
AIR QUALITY
SB 999 Machado SUPPORT for local League action	Expands the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District governing board from 11 to 17 members by increasing representation of Valley cities and adding four public members to be appointed by statewide officials. The public members would be district residents with expertise in medical health, air quality science, transportation and land use, and environmental justice.	Passed by Senate Environmental Quality Committee (5-3), Senate (24-15). In Assembly Local Government Committee; hearing 6-22-05. Also referred to Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
CAMPAIGN FINANCING
AB 583 Hancock SUPPORT	Establishes the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2005, a voluntary system for public financing of political campaigns for all legislative and statewide elective offices. Candidates who show a broad base of support by collecting a specified number of $5 "qualifying contributions" and agree to spending limits would use only public funds for their campaigns. A Clean Money candidate who is outspent by a nonparticipating opponent or is targeted by independent expenditures can receive additional funding up to a specified maximum.	Testimony heard in Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee; no vote taken.
AB 709 Wolk SUPPORT	Prohibits contributions exceeding $5,600 to a state or local ballot measure committee that is controlled by a candidate for elective state office, during the entire period of time the candidate controls the committee. (The contribution limit is to be adjusted for inflation biennially.) States that using ballot measure committee funds for expenditures in support of the candidacy of a trustee of the committee or in opposition to an opposing candidate, or for expenditures for advertising that features a trustee or an opposing candidate, is not a lawful use of those funds. As amended, would be placed on the next statewide ballot after the bill is adopted.	Passed by Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee (4-2), Assembly Appropriations Committee (12-5). Failed passage by Assembly (45-32, with a 2/3 vote of the house required). Amended to require only a majority and passed (46-31). In Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee.
CHILDREN AND FAMILY ISSUES
AB 1285 Montanez SUPPORT for local League action	Allows Los Angeles County to use funds allocated to improve retention of employees (through training, stipends, and support) in state-subsidized child care centers for retention of licensed family child care providers and employees of centers that do not have state contracts.	Passed by Assembly Human Services Committee (6-1), Assembly Appropriations Committee (13-5), Assembly (56-22). In Senate Human Services Committee; hearing 6-28-05.
COASTAL ISSUES
SB 426 Simitian SUPPORT	Requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to conduct a needs assessment study of future demand for, and supply of, natural gas in the state, as well as alternatives including conservation and efficiency, renewable energy sources and steps to increase supplies form currently available sources, and to determine the number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, if any, needed to meet projected demand. Requires the CEC to rank proposed LNG terminals.	Passed by Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee (6-1), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (24-14). Referred to Assembly Utilities and Commerce and Natural Resources Committees.
EDUCATION
ACAX1 4 Keene OPPOSE	See State and Local Finances.
ELECTION SYSTEMS
SB 596 Bowen SUPPORT	Permits any city, county, or district to conduct a local election using ranked voting: i.e., instant runoff voting in an election to elect a single candidate to office (such as the office of mayor or a governing board position elected from a single-member district), or choice voting in an election to elect two or more candidates to office (such as an at-large election with multiple open seats on a governing board). A voting method authorized by this bill could be enacted by a measure placed on the ballot by the governing body or through the initiative process.	Testimony taken in Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee; no vote taken.
ENERGY
SB 107 Simitian SUPPORT	Accelerates the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) program timetable to require utilities to provide 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2010 instead of 2017; requires the California Energy Commission to evaluate the feasibility of requiring 33 percent by 2020. Requires the Energy Commission to develop tracking, accounting, verification and enforcement mechanisms for renewable energy credits that could be purchased by retail sellers of electricity who cannot meet the RPS.	Passed by Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee (7-3), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (25-14). In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee; hearing 6-27-05. Also referred to Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
SB 426 Simitian SUPPORT	See Coastal Issues.
SB 1059 Escutia SUPPORT	Authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to designate electric "transmission corridor zones," in which high-voltage electric transmission lines may be built in the future. The designation is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. Requires cities and counties to update their general plans accordingly and to notify the CEC when accepting a development project application within a transmission corridor zone.	Passed by Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee (10-0), Senate Local Government Committee (9-0), Senate Appropriations Committee (13-0), Senate (34-1). In Assembly.
HEALTH CARE
SB 23 Migden SUPPORT	Requires the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board to provide a "Healthy Families/Medi-Cal Workplace Notice" for employers to use to inform their employees about enrollment and eligibility, and to establish a process for employees to pay their family contribution payments through payroll withholding. Requires outreach and marketing activities in coordination with the Employment Development Department and the Department of Health Services.	Passed by Senate Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee (8-2), Senate Health Committee (9-1), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (26-14). In Assembly Health Committee; hearing 6-28-05.
SB 840 Kuehl SUPPORT	The California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA). Establishes the California Health Insurance System, administered by an elected commissioner, to provide comprehensive health care coverage to all California residents through a "single payer" system. Persons would choose their health care providers, who would be reimbursed for their services through a consolidated claims, financing, and administrative system. Requires the commissioner to seek waivers, agreements, etc., to merge various federal, state, and local health care funds into the system.	Passed by Senate Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee (7-4), Senate Health Committee (7-4), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (25-15). In Assembly.
HOUSING
SB 832 Perata SUPPORT	See Land Use.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESS
SB 469 Bowen SUPPORT	Requires an initiative, referendum, or recall petition to contain a printed notice of whether it is being circulated by a paid circulator or a volunteer. Also requires the petition to disclose the five largest cumulative contributors in support of the measure, and requires this disclosure to be updated within seven days of any change.	Passed by Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee (4-1), Senate Appropriations Committee (7-4), Senate (25-13). In Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee.
JUVENILE JUSTICE/DEPENDENCY
SB 609 Romero SUPPORT	As amended, makes legislative findings and declarations about youth correctional facilities, and states legislative intent to transfer California Youth Authority (CYA) parole supervision services from state to local governments. Previously required reform of the CYA by January 2009 according to specific standards for clothing rules, housing size, facility rehabilitation and risk design, ward classification systems, staffing ratios and training requirements, and classroom and other standards; established a process for redesigning the Youth Authority using juvenile justice stakeholders; and required individual reentry plans for parolees.	Passed by Senate Public Safety Committee (4-2), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (23-14). In Assembly.
LAND USE
SB 832 Perata SUPPORT	Expands the current exemption from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions for infill housing to an exemption, in cities of over 200,000 population, for infill sites of no more than ten acres that have between 200 and 300 units. Maintains existing requirements for density, an affordable housing component, and location near a major transit stop.	Passed by Senate Environmental Quality Committee (6-2), Senate (29-8). In Assembly Natural Resources Committee; hearing 6-27-05.
REDISTRICTING
ACAX1 3 McCarthy SUPPORT IF AMENDED to remove mid-decade redistricting	Amends the California Constitution to require that congressional, state senate, state assembly, and state Board of Equalization district lines be drawn by an independent panel of five retired state or federal judges. To the extent practicable, requires diversity in the pool of judges from which selection is made. Requires an open, transparent redistricting process and establishes prioritized criteria for district boundaries. Requires a mid-decade redistricting--i.e., new district lines would be drawn immediately on passage of the measure by the voters.	In Assembly District Representation Committee; no hearing set. Also referred to Assembly Constitutional Amendments Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
ACAX1 5 Canciamilla and Richman SUPPORT	Similar to SCA 3.	Bill is in print; has not been assigned to a committee.
SCA 3 Lowenthal SUPPORT	Amends the California Constitution to require that congressional, state senate, state assembly, and state Board of Equalization district lines be drawn by an independent redistricting commission of five members. Requires four commission members to be appointed by legislative leaders from a pool and a fifth, the chair, to be appointed by the other members. Requires an open, transparent redistricting process and establishes prioritized criteria for district boundaries.	In Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee.
REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES
Initiative #1067 SA04RF0030 OPPOSE	Amends the California Constitution to bar an unemancipated minor from having an abortion until 48 hours after the physician notifies the minor's parent or legal guardian, except in a medical emergency or with a parental waiver. Permits judicial waiver of notice based on clear and convincing evidence of the minor's maturity or the minor's best interests. Requires the physician to report abortions performed on minors and the state to compile statistics.	On the November 8, 2005 special election ballot.
SB 644 Ortiz SUPPORT	Requires a pharmacist to fill lawful prescriptions unless one of the following circumstances holds: he/she judges that the medication is unlawful or will have a negative interaction with another drug taken by the patient; the medication is not in stock; or the pharmacist refuses on ethical, moral or religious grounds. If the medication is not in stock, the pharmacist must notify the patient and order the prescription, transfer the prescription to another pharmacy that stocks it and is at a reasonable distance, or return the prescription to the patient and refer him/her to a pharmacy that stocks it and is at a reasonable distance. If the pharmacist refuses to dispense the medication, the employer must set up protocols to ensure the patient timely access to the medication.	Failed passage in Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee (3-3); reconsidered and passed (4-3). Passed by Senate Health Committee (7-3), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (26-13). In Assembly Business and Professions Committee; hearing 6-21-05. Also referred to Assembly Health Committee.
STATE AND LOCAL FINANCES
Initiative #1131 SA05RF0067 OPPOSE	"California Live Within Our Means Act" initiative. Proposes an amendment to the California Constitution to make numerous changes in state budgeting and spending processes. Imposes a new state spending limit based on the average rate of growth in revenues over the previous three years. Provides ongoing spending authority at the prior year's levels if a budget is late. Gives the Governor the authority to reduce spending if the budget is late or revenues will be more than 1.5 percent below estimates at the end of any quarter and the legislature does not enact a solution approved by the Governor. Eliminates "Test 3" under which the Proposition 98 school funding guarantee is reduced in a low revenue growth year; reduces the funding level used to calculate subsequent years' funding guarantee when budget cuts are made; ends the provision under which school funding in excess of the guarantee becomes part of the base for calculation of future years' guarantee. Repeals authority to suspend Proposition 42 transfers of the sales tax on gasoline to a Transportation Investment Fund. Prohibits loans from special funds to the General Fund.	On the November 8, 2005 special election ballot.
AB 6 Chan SUPPORT	Reinstates the top state personal income tax rates of 10 percent and 11 percent for tax years 2005 through 2009, at inflation-adjusted taxable income levels corresponding to those in effect from 1991 through 1995.	Passed by Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee (4-3), Assembly Appropriations Committee, 13-5). On Assembly floor.
AB 168 Ridley-Thomas SUPPORT	Establishes the California Tax Expenditure Accountability Act. Requires the Department of Finance (DOF) to submit an annual report of estimated losses attributable to certain tax expenditures, based on a dynamic revenue analysis and on reports provided by the Franchise Tax Board and State Board of Equalization. The DOF report shall cover tax expenditures that cause estimated revenue losses of $10 million or more and that are chosen by legislative revenue and taxation committees on policy grounds. Requires the Legislative Analyst's Office to make annual recommendations to the legislature as to which tax expenditures should be modified or repealed.	Passed by Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee (5-2), Assembly Appropriations Committee (13-5), Assembly (47-32). In Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee; hearing 6-22-05.
AB 1590 Lieber SUPPORT by local Leagues is authorized	Limits the 2005-2006 shift of property tax revenues from certain special districts to the state. (The 2004-2005 budget agreement called for two years of property tax shifts from local governments to the state.) Affects enterprise special districts (districts that have authority to charge users for their services) that also perform non-enterprise functions.	Passed by Assembly Local Government Committee (5-0). Held on Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.
ACAX1 4 Keene OPPOSE	Proposes an amendment to the California Constitution to make numerous changes in state budgeting and spending processes, many of them similar to the Live Within Our Means initiative. Provides ongoing spending authority at the prior year's levels if a budget is late. Requires across-the-board spending reductions if the budget will be more than $250 million out of balance and the legislature does not enact a solution. Eliminates "Test 3" under which the Proposition 98 school funding guarantee is reduced in a low revenue growth year; prohibits suspension of Proposition 98; reduces the funding level used to calculate subsequent years' funding guarantee when across-the-board cuts are made; ends the provision under which school funding in excess of the guarantee becomes part of the base for calculation of future years' guarantee. Repeals authority to suspend Proposition 42 transfers of the sales tax on gasoline to a Transportation Investment Fund. Prohibits loans from special funds to the General Fund.	In Assembly Budget Process Committee. Also referred to Assembly Constitutional Amendments Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
SB 17 Escutia SUPPORT	Redefines change of ownership of commercial properties to require reassessment if more than 50 percent of the ownership interests change hands in any assessment year. Establishes reporting requirements. Does not apply to publicly traded companies.	Passed by Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee (5-3), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5). On Senate inactive file.
TRANSPORTATION
SB 680 Simitian SUPPORT for local League action	Authorizes the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, by a two-thirds vote of its board, to impose an annual vehicle registration fee of up to $5 on all vehicles registered in Santa Clara County, to fund congestion management projects. The fee would sunset in 2014.	Passed by Senate Transportation and Housing Committee (8-5), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (23-15). In Assembly Local Government Committee; hearing 6-22-05. Also referred to Assembly Transportation Committee.
VOTING RIGHTS
AB 43 Vargas SUPPORT	Requires that, in the event of a recount, provisions of law governing the counting of write-in votes shall be liberally construed to ensure that each ballot is counted if the intent of the voter can be determined, even if the voter has not complied with the voting instructions.	Passed by Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee with amendments (4-1), Assembly Appropriations Committee (13-5), Assembly (45-33). In Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee.
AB 821 Ridley-Thomas SUPPORT	Requires county elections officials to provide voter registration forms and a "Guide to Inmate Voting" to local detention facilities so that those materials are available to inmates who are not yet convicted (awaiting a hearing or sentencing), inmates who are serving a sentence for a traffic offense or misdemeanor conviction or a sentence conditioned on probation, and persons who have completed a sentence for a felony conviction (and are no longer on parole).	Passed by Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee (4-2), Assembly Appropriations Committee (13-5), Assembly (41-35). In Senate.
AB 867 Liu SUPPORT	Authorizes seven specified counties to participate in a pilot project in which all elections in the county would be held entirely by mail until 1-1-2011. Requires participating counties to report to the legislature on the effectiveness of the pilot project.	Failed passage in Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee (3-3); reconsidered and passed (4-2). Held on Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.
ACA 17 Mullin SUPPORT	Amends the California Constitution to allow an individual who will be 18 years old on the date of the next general election to register and to vote in any intervening primary or special election if he or she is at least 17 years old and meets all other eligibility requirements.	In Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee; hearing 6-21-05.
SB 191 Cedillo SUPPORT	Requires the Trustees of the California State University and the governing boards of the California Community Colleges, and urges the Regents of the University of California, to make links to state and county voter registration Web sites available on their respective school Web sites, or to distribute voter registration forms during registration and when issuing student ID cards at the beginning of each term.	Passed by Senate Education Committee (7-3), Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee (4-2), Senate (25-15). In Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee; hearing 6-21-05. Also referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee.
SB 316 Margett SUPPORT	Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to include a notice in any document promoting the DMV's role in carrying out the National Voter Registration (Motor Voter) Act, stating that persons who register to vote at a DMV office should contact their local elections officials or the Secretary of State if they have not received voter registration information within 30 days.	Passed by Senate Transportation and Housing Committee (12-0), Senate Appropriations Committee (13-0), Senate (40-0). In Assembly Transportation Committee; hearing 6-20-05. Also referred to Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee.
SB 1050 Bowen SUPPORT	Provides that a vote for a qualified write-in candidate shall be counted if the candidate's name is written in the space provided, and that failure to mark a voting space ("bubble") next to the write-in space shall not preclude the ballot from being counted, if the intent of the voter can be determined. States that the requirement that the voting space be marked or slotted is "for the convenience of the elections official counting the ballot."	Passed by Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee (4-2), Senate (23-15). In Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee; hearing 6-21-05.
WATER
AB 802 Wolk SUPPORT	Requires that a city or county general plan consider and include flood management in the conservation element. Factors to be considered by the local planning agency include coordination with the land use element and possible means of using flood water to supplement the existing water supply.	Passed by Assembly Local Government Committee (5-1), Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee (8-4), Assembly Appropriations Committee (13-5). Failed passage in Assembly (36-33); reconsideration granted. On Assembly inactive file.
AB 1168 Saldana SUPPORT	Requires that when the Department of Health Services reviews a desalination project application for an operating permit, it must identify potential contaminants and sources of contamination and ensure the safety and effectiveness of treatment processes.	Passed by Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee (5-2), Assembly Appropriations Committee (13-5), Assembly (54-23). In Senate Health Committee; hearing 6-15-05. Also referred to Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
AB 1590 Lieber SUPPORT by local Leagues is authorized	See State and Local Finances.
SB 820 Kuehl SUPPORT	Establishes water conservation as a consideration for determining reasonable use of water. Establishes requirements for reporting annual use of groundwater and surface water and establishes consequences for failing to file required reports. Requires the California Water Plan to discuss energy produced and required by each water management strategy. Adds additional requirements on various water resources planning processes (urban, groundwater, and agricultural water management plans).	Passed by Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee (7-3), Senate Appropriations Committee (8-5), Senate (22-16). In Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.
SB 866 Kehoe SUPPORT	Requires the Department of Water Resources, in consultation with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Health Services, to develop and implement a coordinated water use reporting database, and to make various progress reports to the legislature. Requires reporting of farm-gate deliveries and surface water diversions by 2010.	In Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

Note: Bills introduced in the 2005-06 First Extraordinary Session are identified by the presence of "X1" in the bill number, as for example ACAX1 3.