December 26
This proposal adds—beginning in 2009—a new 1 percent surcharge on personal income above $1 million. This would establish a top state income tax bracket of 11.3 percent. It directs 60 percent of the new income tax revenues to the two university systems for undergraduate education. This proposal also freezes CSU resident undergraduate fees at their 2008-09 level for five years. After that period, the proposal would limit subsequent fee increases to no more than the annual percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index.
December 20
This measure amends the State Constitution to change the redistricting process for the state Legislature, BOE, and California Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead of the Legislature, an 11-member commission would adjust district boundaries every ten years.
December 18
This measure contains provisions that (1) expand drug treatment diversion programs for nonviolent offenders, (2) modify parole supervision procedures and expand prison and parole rehabilitation programs, (3) allow for additional credits for participation and performance in rehabilitation programs that could reduce the time certain offenders stay in state prison, (4) change the penalties for marijuana possession, and (5) make various other miscellaneous changes to state law related mainly to the organization of rehabilitation programs at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
December 12
This measure amends the State Constitution to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman. In addition it defines a man as possessing a Y chromosome and a woman as not possessing such a chromosome. In addition, the measure prohibits the Legislature, courts, and state and local government agencies from granting the “rights, incidents, or employee benefits of marriage” to any unmarried persons or decreasing the existing marriage rights or benefits. The measure also prohibits government agencies from requiring private entities to extend the rights of marriage to unmarried persons.
December 17
This measure makes several changes to current laws relating to criminal offenders. The most significant of these changes are new criminal justice programs and funding levels, increased criminal penalties for some crimes, various changes to state parole policies and others.
November 29
The proposed initiative reduces prison sentences served under the Three Strikes law by second and third strikers whose current offenses are specified nonserious and non-violent felonies. The initiative also allows resentencing of third strikers who are currently serving life sentences for specified nonserious, nonviolent felonies.
November 28
The measure requires that California voters be presented with the following question at a statewide election: Shall the federal government be required to adopt mandatory full funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of ensuring that all eligible honorably discharged U.S. Veterans, Reservists and California National Guard of the United States of America receive quality and accessible healthcare and related services?
November 26
This measure’s apparent intent is to include—as a new above-the-line deduction when computing AGI—expenses paid or incurred for dietary supplements and foods for special dietary needs, as defined. It would also expand the definition of medical care expenses deductible for state PIT purposes to include purchases of dietary supplements and foods for special dietary needs.
November 19
This measure would make several changes to existing state law and policies relating to the operations of the state prison system. First, it would require that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) provide education and substance abuse treatment programs to all state inmates who wish to participate. Second, this measure changes the rules relating to family visits at state prisons. Family visits are overnight visits between inmates and family members that take place in special facilities for these purposes on prison grounds. Third, inmates participating in family visiting would be required to pay a $25 fee per visit.