February 12
This measure adds a new section to the Constitution permanently increasing the statewide SUT rate by one cent—from 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent—starting January 1, 2010. The revenues generated by the one-cent increase in the statewide SUT would be deposited into a new, constitutionally established Public School Investment and Accountability Fund. Under the measure, the special fund monies received by K-12 school districts must supplement, not substitute for, existing state funding and be used exclusively to support “instructional improvement and accountability” activities. Similarly, CCC districts must use the new special fund monies to supplement existing state funding and may not use funds to cover administrative costs. The measure directs the State Controller to distribute funds on a monthly basis and requires school and CCC districts to conduct an annual independent audit showing how they spent their special fund monies.
December 5
This measure amends the State Constitution to (1) establish a new statewide board responsible for licensing and regulating certain law enforcement officers and (2) require certain state, county, and city agencies to provide specified training to these officers.
September 17
This measure replaces existing term limits with new requirements. Specifically, the measure would limit the number of consecutive terms in office that an individual could serve. (Current law limits the total number of terms in office, rather than the number of consecutive terms in office.) Under the measure, an individual could serve up to 8 consecutive years in the Assembly (four two-year terms) and up to 12 consecutive years in the Senate (three four-year terms).
July 18
Establishes a Wealth Tax. The measure institutes a state wealth tax levied on the net assets of individuals with values in excess of about $40 million as of January 1, 2010. The minimum wealth tax rate would be 55 percent. It appears that the wealth tax would be levied on taxpayers in the state on a one-time basis, with revenues to be deposited in the newly created Global Warming Fund in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The monies in this fund would be used to acquire a majority interest in outstanding voting common stock of various petroleum, automotive, and financial companies, as well as for other envi-ronmental protection-related purposes.
April 15
This measure would amend the Constitution and state law to establish a state-funded umbilical cord blood bank and adult stem cell research center that would also facilitate the adoption of embryos.
March 20
This measure amends Section 51500 of the Education Code to remove “promotes a discriminatory bias because of a characteristic listed in Section 220” and replace it with “reflects adversely upon persons because of their race, sex, color, creed, disability, national origin, religion, or ancestry.” As a result, the measure removes the prohibition against instruction that reflects adversely or promotes discrimination against persons because of their sexual orientation.
March 19
The average retail price of a pack of cigarettes currently is roughly $4.25 in California, including all taxes. This measure increases the existing excise tax on cigarettes by 75 cents per pack effective May 1, 2009. Existing state law requires the Board of Equalization (BOE) to increase taxes on other tobacco products—such as loose tobacco and snuff—in an amount equivalent to any increase in the tax on cigarettes. Thus, this measure would also result in a comparable increase in the excise tax on other tobacco products. All of the additional tobacco revenues (including those on other tobacco products) would be used to support various new and existing programs specified in this measure.
March 14
The average retail price of a pack of cigarettes currently is roughly $4.25 in California, including all taxes. This measure increases the existing excise tax on cigarettes by 75 cents per pack effective January 1, 2009. Existing state law requires the Board of Equalization (BOE) to increase taxes on other tobacco products—such as loose tobacco and snuff—in an amount equivalent to any increase in the tax on cigarettes. Thus, this measure would also result in a comparable increase in the excise tax on other tobacco products. All of the additional tobacco revenues (including those on other tobacco products) are intended to be used to support various new and existing programs specified in this measure.