BILL NUMBER: ACA 12	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 23, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member  Papan   Chavez


                        JUNE 6, 2001

   Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 12--A resolution to propose
to the people of the State of California an amendment to the 
Constitution of the State, by amending Section 4.5 of Article IV,
relating to the Legislature.  Constitution of the State,
by adding Section 2.5 to Article XVI thereof, relating to veterans.




	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACA 12, as amended,  Papan   Chavez  .
 Legislative terms   Homeless Veterans Housing
Assistance Program  . 
   The California Constitution prohibits the Legislature from
creating any debt exceeding $300,000, as specified, unless authorized
by law for a single object, principal and interest is paid on the
debt, that law can not be repealed until the principal and interest
on the debt is paid and discharged, and the law is approved by a 2/3
vote of the Legislature and a majority vote of the people.
   The Veterans' Farm and Home Purchase Act of 1943 and subsequent
acts authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase homes
or farms for sale to veterans, and to finance the purchase by the
veteran through the sale of general obligation bonds.  All bond
proceeds are deposited into veterans' farm and home building funds
established under the various acts.
   This measure would provide that, notwithstanding any provision in
the Constitution or any bond act to the contrary, the Legislature may
authorize the use of any surplus funds, as defined, derived pursuant
to a veterans' farm and home purchase act, as defined, for the
purpose of funding the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation
of transitional and long-term housing for homeless veterans,
including support services and administration.  
   The California Constitution establishes the California
Legislature, consisting of the Senate and the Assembly.  Under the
California Constitution, no Senator may serve more than 2 terms of 4
years each, and no Member of the Assembly may serve more than 3 terms
of 2 years each, as specified.
   This measure would provide instead that no Senator may serve more
than 3 terms and that no Member of the Assembly may serve more than 6
terms in that office. 
   Vote:  2/3.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:   no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no.




   Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring, That the
Legislature of the State of California at its 2001-02 Regular Session
commencing on the fourth day of December 2000, two-thirds of the
membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of
the State of California that the Constitution of the State be
 amended by amending Section 4.5 of Article IV thereof, to
read:   adding Section 2.5 to Article XVI thereof, to
read:
      SEC. 2.5.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Constitution, or any bond act to the contrary, the Legislature may
authorize the use of surplus funds, derived pursuant to any veterans'
farm and home purchase act, for the acquisition, construction, or
rehabilitation of transitional and long-term housing for homeless
veterans, including support services and administration.
   (b) For purposes of this section:
   (1) "Surplus funds" means funds derived from any veterans' farm
and home purchase act that are not needed to meet legal obligations
under that act and exceed the amounts needed for the implementation
under that act of a farm and home purchase program, the repayment of
bondholders, the operation of the program, or related insurance
programs.
   (2) "Veterans' farm and home purchase act" means a measure
approved by the state electorate pursuant to which general obligation
bonds are issued and sold to fund loans to veterans for the purchase
of farms or homes.  
      SEC. 4.5.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Constitution or existing law, a person elected to or serving in the
Legislature on or after November 1, 1990, shall participate in the
Federal Social Security (Retirement, Disability, Health Insurance)
Program and the State shall pay only the employer's share of the
contributions necessary for that participation.  No other pension or
retirement benefit shall accrue as a result of service in the
Legislature,  that service not being intended as a career occupation.
  This  section shall not be construed to abrogate or diminish any
vested pension or retirement benefit  that may have accrued under an
existing law to a person holding or having held office in the
Legislature, but upon adoption of this  section no further
entitlement to nor vesting in any existing program shall accrue to
any such person, other than Social Security to the extent herein
provided.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not
prohibit a person holding or having held office in the Legislature
from accruing pension or retirement benefits as a result of his or
her service in the Legislature if the person was a member of a public
retirement system prior to his or her election to the Legislature.