February 18
The measure requires that 25 percent of the Governor’s pay and 100 percent of the Legislature’s pay be withheld at the beginning of each fiscal year. Those funds would be paid upon completion of the next fiscal year’s budget approval process.
February 3
This measure amends the Constitution to lower the vote requirement necessary to pass the budget bill and related legislation from two-thirds to 55 percent. The lower vote requirement would also apply to measures to increase taxes that are related to the budget bill. These bills would take effect immediately upon enactment (or upon a date specified in the legislation).
February 3
This measure amends the Constitution to lower the vote requirement necessary to pass the budget bill and related appropriations from two-thirds to 55 percent. The measure does not change the vote requirement for bills increasing taxes, which would still require a two-thirds vote of each house.
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.