BILL NUMBER: AB 1499	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 27, 2012
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 27, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 25, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Budget (Blumenfield (Chair), Alejo,
Bonilla, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Cedillo, Chesbro, Dickinson,
Feuer, Gordon, Huffman, Mitchell, Monning, and Swanson)

                        JANUARY 10, 2012

   An act to amend Section 13115 of the Elections Code, relating to
elections, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect
immediately, bill related to the budget.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1499, Committee on Budget. Elections: ballot order for
statewide measures.
   Existing law specifies the order in which statewide ballot
measures are required to appear on the ballot.
   This bill would require that bond measures and constitutional
amendments, including those proposed by initiative, appear on the
ballot before all other legislative, initiative, and referendum
measures.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a
bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.
   Appropriation: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that bond
measures and constitutional amendments should have priority on the
ballot because of the profound and lasting impact these measures can
have on our state. Bond measures create debts against the state
treasury that obligate the resources of future Californians.
Constitutional amendments make changes to our state's fundamental
principles and protections. In recognition of their significance,
bond measures and constitutional amendments should be placed at the
top of the ballot to ensure that the voters can carefully weigh the
consequences of these important measures.
   (b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the Secretary
of State has received funding in the Budget Act of 2012, and an
appropriation contained herein, to provide direction to counties
regarding the preparation of ballots, and to prepare the ballot
pamphlet, in a manner that is consistent with the changes to the
Elections Code provided by this act.
  SEC. 2.  Section 13115 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   13115.  The order in which all state measures that are to be
submitted to the voters shall appear upon the ballot is as follows:
   (a) Bond measures, including those proposed by initiative, in the
order in which they qualify.
   (b) Constitutional amendments, including those proposed by
initiative, in the order in which they qualify.
   (c) Legislative measures, other than those described in
subdivision (a) or (b), in the order in which they are approved by
the Legislature.
   (d) Initiative measures, other than those described in subdivision
(a) or (b), in the order in which they qualify.
   (e) Referendum measures, in the order in which they qualify.
  SEC. 3.  The sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) is hereby
appropriated from the General Fund to the Secretary of State to
implement the requirements of this act.
  SEC. 4.   This act is a bill providing for appropriations related
to the Budget Bill within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section
12 of Article IV of the California Constitution, has been identified
as related to the budget in the Budget Bill, and shall take effect
immediately.