Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 22, 2012

16

ELECTION 2012

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 22, 2012 


NOVEMBER 2012 STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES 

Proposition 30 (Gov. Jerry Brown's tax increase plan)

 Temporary Taxes to Fund Education. Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

 Increases personal income tax on annual earnings over $250,000 for seven years. Increases sales and use tax by ¼ cent for four years. Allocates temporary 
tax revenues 89 percent to K-12 schools and 11 percent to community colleges. Bars use of funds for administrative costs, but provides local school 
governing boards discretion to decide, in open meetings and subject to annual audit, how funds are to be spent. Guarantees funding for public safety 
services realigned from state to local governments. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local 
government: Increased state revenues over the next seven fiscal years. Estimates of the revenue increases vary—from $6.8 billion to $9 billion for 2012-13 
and from $5.4 billion to $7.6 billion, on average, in the following five fiscal years, with lesser amounts in 2018-19. These revenues would be available to 
(1) pay for the state's school and community college funding requirements, as increased by this measure, and (2) address the state's budgetary problem by 
paying for other spending commitments. Limitation on the state's ability to make changes to the programs and revenues shifted to local governments in 
2011, resulting in a more stable fiscal situation for local governments.

 

Proposition 31 (State budget process changes)

 State Budget. State and Local Government. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

 Establishes two-year state budget cycle. Prohibits Legislature from creating expenditures of more than $25 million unless offsetting revenues or spending cuts are identified. Permits Governor 
to cut budget unilaterally during declared fiscal emergencies if Legislature fails to act. Requires performance reviews of all state programs. Requires performance goals in state and 
local budgets. Requires publication of all bills at least three days prior to legislative vote. Gives counties power to alter state statutes or regulations related to spending unless Legislature or 
state agency vetoes changes within 60 days. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Decreased state revenues 
and commensurate increased local revenues, probably in the range of about $200 million annually, beginning in 2013-14. Potential decreased state program costs or increased state revenues 
resulting from changes in the fiscal authority of the Legislature and Governor. Increased state and local costs of tens of millions of dollars annually to implement new budgeting practices. 
Over time, these costs would moderate and potentially be offset by savings from improved program efficiencies. (

 

Proposition 32

 Prohibits Political Contributions by Payroll Deduction. Prohibitions on Contributions to Candidates. Initiative Statute.

 Restricts union political fundraising by prohibiting use of payroll-deducted funds for political purposes. Same use restriction would apply to payroll deductions, if any, by corporations or 
government contractors. Permits voluntary employee contributions to employer or union committees if authorized yearly, in writing. Prohibits unions and corporations from contributing 
directly or indirectly to candidates and candidate-controlled committees. Other political expenditures remain unrestricted, including corporate expenditures from available resources not 
limited by payroll deduction prohibition. Limits government contractor contributions to elected officers or officer-controlled committees. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and 
Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increased state implementation and enforcement costs of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, potentially 
offset in part by revenues from fines

 

Proposition 33

 Changes Law to Allow Auto Insurance Companies to Set Prices Based on a Driver's History of Insurance Coverage. Initiative Statute.

 hanges current law to permit insurance companies to set prices based on whether the driver previously carried auto insurance with any insurance company. Allows insurance companies 
to give proportional discounts to drivers with some prior insurance coverage. Will allow insurance companies to increase cost of insurance to drivers who have not maintained continuous 
coverage. Treats drivers with lapse as continuously covered if lapse is due to military service or loss of employment, or if lapse is less than 90 days. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst 
and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Probably no significant fiscal effect on state insurance premium tax revenues.

 

Proposition 34

 Death Penalty Repeal. Initiative Statute.

 Repeals death penalty as maximum punishment for persons found guilty of murder and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Applies retroactively to persons 
already sentenced to death. Requires persons found guilty of murder to work while in prison, with their wages to be applied to any victim restitution fines or orders against them. Creates 
$100 million fund to be distributed to law enforcement agencies to help solve more homicide and rape cases. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal 
impact on state and local government: Net savings to the state and counties that could amount to the high tens of millions of dollars annually on a statewide basis due to the elimination of 
the death penalty. One-time state costs totaling $100 million from 2012-13 through 2015-16 to provide funding to local law enforcement agencies.

 

Proposition 35

 Human Trafficking. Penalties. Sex Offender Registration. Initiative Statute.

 Increases criminal penalties for human trafficking, including prison sentences up to 15-years-to-life and fines up to $1,500,000. Fines collected to be used for victim services and law enforcement. 
Requires person convicted of trafficking to register as sex offender. Requires sex offenders to provide information regarding Internet access and identities they use in online activities. 
Prohibits evidence that victim engaged in sexual conduct from being used against victim in court proceedings. Requires human trafficking training for police officers. Summary of estimate 
by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Potential one-time local government costs of up to a few million dollars on a statewide basis, 
and lesser additional costs incurred each year, due to the new mandatory training requirements for certain law enforcement officers. Minor increase to state and local governments on the 
costs of incarcerating and supervising human trafficking offenders. Unknown amount of additional revenue from new criminal fees, likely not to exceed the low millions of dollars annually, 
which would fund services for human trafficking victims

 

Proposition 36

 Three Strikes Law. Sentencing for Repeat Felony Offenders. Initiative Statute.

 Revises three strikes law to impose life sentence only when new felony conviction is serious or violent. Authorizes re-sentencing for offenders currently serving life sentences if third strike 
conviction was not serious or violent and judge determines sentence does not pose unreasonable risk to public safety. Continues to impose life sentence penalty if third strike conviction was 
for certain non-serious, non-violent sex or drug offenses or involved firearm possession. Maintains life sentence penalty for felons with non-serious, non-violent third strike if prior convictions 
were for rape, murder, or child molestation. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: State savings related 
to prison and parole operations that potentially range in the high tens of millions of dollars annually in the short run, possibly exceeding $100 million annually in the long run. Increased 
state and county costs in the millions to low tens of millions of dollars annually in the first few years, likely declining substantially in future years, for state court activities and county jail, 
community supervision, and court-related activities.

 

Proposition 37:

 Genetically Engineered Foods. Mandatory Labeling. Initiative Statute.

 Requires labeling on raw or processed food offered for sale to consumers if made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specified ways. Prohibits labeling or advertising 
such food as “natural.” Exempts foods that are: certified organic; unintentionally produced with genetically engineered material; made from animals fed or injected with genetically engineered 
material but not genetically engineered themselves; processed with or containing only small amounts of genetically engineered ingredients; administered for treatment of medical 
conditions; sold for immediate consumption such as in a restaurant; or alcoholic beverages. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state 
and local government: Potential increase in state administrative costs of up to one million dollars annually to monitor compliance with the disclosure requirements specified in the measure. 
Unknown, but potentially significant, costs for the courts, the Attorney General, and district attorneys due to litigation resulting from possible violations to the provisions of this measure.

 

Proposition 38

Tax for Education and Early Childhood Programs. Initiative Statute.

 Increases personal income tax rates for annual earnings over $7,316 using sliding scale from .4% 
for lowest individual earners to 2.2% for individuals earning over $2.5 million, ending after twelve 
years. During first four years, 60% of revenues go to K-12 schools, 30% to repaying state debt, and 
10% to early childhood programs. Thereafter, allocates 85% of revenues to K-12 schools, 15% to 
early childhood programs. Provides K-12 funds on school specific, per-pupil basis, subject to local 
control, audits, and public input. Prohibits state from directing or using new funds. Summary of estimate 
by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: 
Increased state personal income tax revenues beginning in 2013 and ending in 2024. Estimates of 
the revenue increases vary from $10 billion to $11 billion per fiscal year beginning in 2013-14, tending 
to increase over time. The 2012-13 revenue increase would be about half this amount. Until the 
end of 2016-17, 60 percent of revenues would be dedicated to K-12 education and 10 percent would 
be provided to early care and education programs. These allocations would supplement existing 
funding for these programs. In 2017-18 and subsequent years, 85 percent would be provided to 
K-12 education and 15 percent to early care and education. General Fund savings on debt-service 
costs of about $1.5 billion in 2012-13 and $3 billion in 2013-14, with savings tending to grow thereafter 
until the end of 2016-17. In 2015-16 and subsequent years with stronger growth in state personal 
income tax revenues, some of the revenues raised by this measure—several hundred million 
dollars per year— would be used for debt-service costs, resulting in state savings.

 

Proposition 39

 Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses. Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Funding. Initiative 
Statute.

 Requires multistate businesses to calculate their California income tax liability based on the percentage 
of their sales in California. Repeals existing law giving multistate businesses an option to 
choose a tax liability formula that provides favorable tax treatment for businesses with property and 
payroll outside California. Dedicates $550 million annually for five years from anticipated increase 
in revenue for the purpose of funding projects that create energy efficiency and clean energy jobs in 
California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on 
state and local government: Approximately $500 million in additional state General Fund revenues 
in 2012-13 and $1 billion each year thereafter from requiring a single sales factor formula for corporate 
taxes, with about half of the additional annual revenues from 2013-14 through 2017-18 supporting 
energy efficiency and alternative energy projects. Increased Proposition 98 minimum funding 
guarantee for K-14 schools of roughly $225 million annually from 2012-13 through 2017-18 and 
by roughly $500 million each year thereafter, as a result of additional state General Fund revenues.

 

Proposition 40

 Redistricting. State Senate Districts. Referendum.

 State Senate districts are revised every ten years following the federal census. This year, the voter-
approved California Citizens Redistricting Commission revised the boundaries of the 40 Senate districts. 
This referendum petition, if signed by the required number of registered voters and filed with 
the Secretary of State, will: (1) Place the revised State Senate boundaries on the ballot and prevent 
them from taking effect unless approved by the voters at the next statewide election; and (2) Require 
court-appointed officials to set interim boundaries for use in the next statewide election.