Hon. Bill Lockyer
Attorney General
1300 I Street, 17th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814
Attention: Ms. Connie Lemus
Initiative Coordinator
Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9005, we have reviewed the proposed initiative cited as the "Fair Elections Act of 2000" (File No. SA 1999 RF 0013).
Currently, the California Constitution requires the Legislature to adjust the boundaries of districts for the State Senate and Assembly, Board of Equalization, and U.S. House of Representatives from California in the year following the national census. This measure would transfer that authority to the California Supreme Court. The measure specifies that the Supreme Court may appoint "Special Masters" to hold public hearings to permit the presentation of evidence and argument with respect to proposed district plans.
Fiscal Effect
Presumably, the costs for establishing district boundaries for the Legislature, Board of Equalization, and U.S. House of Representatives from California, would be incurred only once every decade following the decennial census. The measure could result in net costs or savings depending on the costs to the Supreme Court to establish the boundaries versus the costs to the Legislature under the current requirements. The net fiscal effect is unknown, but probably not significant.