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STATE: Proposed initiatives regarding state flag, political contributions, changing governor to president enter circulation
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced Tuesday that the proponent of three new initiatives may begin collecting petition signatures for his measures.
Louis J. Marinelli is seeking to put initiatives before voters involving the state flag, limits to contributions by non-California residents to certain candidates and political groups, and changing the state Constitution to replace the word “governor” with “president.”
The attorney general prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on initiative petitions.
When the official language is complete, the attorney general forwards it to the proponent and to the secretary of state, and the initiative may be circulated for signatures.
The secretary of state then provides calendar deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials.
The attorney general’s official title and summary for the measures follow.
DISPLAY OF STATE FLAG
Requires display of the California State flag in the position of first honor when both the United States flag and the California State flag are displayed at schools, universities, colleges, courtrooms, government buildings, and state parks, and at events held in coliseums, stadiums, bowls, other open air sites, and race tracks.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Likely no fiscal effect on state and local governments.
Marinelli must collect signatures of 365,880 registered voters (5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2014 gubernatorial election) in order to qualify it for the November 2016 ballot.
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS: OUT-OF-STATE DONORS
Prohibits candidates, committees, and certain political mailer organizations from receiving funds from non-California residents. Exempts funds provided to candidates for federal office, or to political mailer organizations advocating for or against candidates for federal office.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increased state and local costs to administer and enforce campaign finance and disclosure laws, possibly in the range of a few hundred thousand dollars initially.
Marinelli must collect signatures of 365,880 registered voters in order to qualify it for the November 2016 ballot.
PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA
Amends the California Constitution to replace the word governor with the word president.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Potential minor one-time costs to state and local government to change the name of the chief executive in government documents.
Marinelli must collect signatures of 585,407 registered voters (8 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2014 gubernatorial election) in order to qualify it for the November 2016 ballot.
He has 180 days to circulate petitions for each measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials by Nov. 25.
The proponent can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . No phone number was provided.