California Ballot Propositions 1980-1989

JUNE 3, 1980 | NOVEMBER 4, 1980

1

Parklands & renewable resources investment program.
1980 Cal. Stat. 9
SB 547

Pub. Res. §§ 34000 - 34166

Bond issue of $495,000,000 to be used in a coordinated effort to deal with the interrelated problems of meeting the recreational and open space requirements of the people of California, conserving and extending the state's water supply, expanding sport and commercial fishing opportunities and restoring and protecting the agricultural productivity of the state's soil resources pursuant to the Parklands and Renewable Resources Investment Program.

2

Veterans bond act of 1980.
1980 Cal. Stat. 1
AB 1963

Mil. & Vet. §§ 998.041 - .051

Bond issue of $750,000,000 to provide farm and home aid for California veterans.

3

State capitol maintenance.
1978 Cal. Res. 56
SCA 65

Art IV § 28

Prohibits any bill taking effect as urgency statute if it contains authorization or appropriation for alteration or modification of specified historically restored areas of State Capitol or for purchase of furniture of design different from the historic period of the Capitol restoration. Prohibits expenditure for above purposes without express appropriation.

4

Low-rent housing.
1978 Cal. Res. 72
ACA 47

Art XXXIV § 1

Eliminates present requirement of advance approval at an election before a lowering housing project can be developed, constructed or acquired by a state public body. Substitutes therefore provisions that require advance public notice of such a project and subjects the project to a referendum election upon petition by 10 percent of the electors within 60 days of the notice. If project is not disapproved at the referendum election or no referendum is requested, the public body may proceed with the project without further referendum.

5

Freedom of press.
1978 Cal. Res. 77
ACA 4

Art I § 2

Maintains existing guarantees of free speech and press. Adds provisions prohibiting any contempt citation by a judicial, legislative or administrative body against a publisher, editor, reporter or other person connected with a newspaper, magazine, wire service or radio or television news for refusing to disclose sources of information or unpublished information obtained in course of processing information for communication to the public.

6

Reapportionment.
1978 Cal. Res. 78
ACA 53

Art IV, § 6, 27; Art XIII, Art XXI § 1

Repeals, amends and restates various provisions of the Constitution relating to reapportionment of Senate, Assembly, congressional and board of Equalization districts. Eliminates provisions previously judicially invalidated. Eliminates requirement that only persons eligible to become citizens be counted in equalizing populations in legislative districts. Sets forth in a new article the standards to which the Legislature is required to conform in adjusting the boundaries of these districts each decade. These standards include requirements for single member districts, reasonably equal population districts, contiguousness of a district, a consecutive numbering system and respecting the geographical integrity of cities and counties.

7

Disaster assistance.
1979 Cal. Res. 93
SCA 21

Art XVI § 6

Specifically provides that nothing in the Constitution shall prohibit the state, or any of its subdivisions or local governments, from providing aid to persons for the purpose of clearing debris, natural materials and wreckage from private lands and waters deposited thereon during a major disaster or emergency declared by the President. Such aid must be found to be in the public interest and its cost eligible for federal reimbursement. Recipient must indemnify public entity from any claim against it arising from rendering such aid.

8

Alternative energy sources facilities financing.
1980 Cal. Res. 1
ACA 46

Art XVI § 14.5

Authorizes Legislature to provide for the issuance of revenue bonds to finance the acquisition, construction and installation of alternative energy source facilities and for the lease or sale of such facilities to persons, associations or corporations, other than municipal corporations. Provides that such revenue bonds shall not be secured by the taxing power of the state. Provides that the Legislature may, by resolution adopted by either house, prohibit or limit any proposed issuance of such bonds. Provides measure does not authorize any public agency to operate industrial or commercial enterprises.

9

Income taxation.
Initiative constitutional amendment

Art XIII §§ 3, 26.5

Provides that taxes on or measured by income which are imposed under the Personal Income Tax Law or successor law shall not exceed 50 percent of those rates in effect for the 1978 taxable year. Requires the Legislature to provide a system for adjusting personal income tax brackets to reflect annual changes in the California Consumer Price Index or successor index. Provides that business inventories are exempt from property taxation.

10

Fair rent control standards. Rent.
Initiative constitutional amendment

Art XI § 7

Declares rent control to be matter of local government concern. Provides that rent control shall be imposed only by vote of the people through enactment of local ordinances. Prohibits state enacted rent control. Permits annual rent increases based on Consumer Price Index and additional increases based on other specified factors. Requires that rent control ordinance establish a commission to resolve grievances involving rent increases. Exempts specified types of rental units from rent control. Prohibits landlord retaliation for exercise of tenant's rights. Repeals existing rent control ordinances as of date of next election.

11

Oil profits tax.
Initiative statute

Rev. & Tax. §§ 23480 et seq.

Levies a 10 percent surtax on the business income from California sources of energy businesses (except public utilities) whose principal activity is the obtaining, processing, distributing or marketing of oil, gas, coal or uranium. Allows a tax credit against surtax of $0.50 for every dollar invested in California after January 1, 1979, to increase the production or refining of California crude oil or gas over 1978 base levels. Requires that surtax proceeds be used to fund increased bus and rail service for Californians and to develop alternative transportation fuels. Prohibits businesses from passing surtax on to consumers.

1

California parklands act of 1980. Parklands acquisition & development program.
1980 Cal. Stat. 250
SB 624

Pub. Res. §§ 5096.141 et seq.

Provides for meeting the urgent recreational requirements of the people of California through the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and restoration of state and local parks, public beaches and other important coastal resources, recreation areas and recreational facilities, and historical resources pursuant to a bond issue of $285,000,000.

2

Lake Tahoe acquisitions bond act of 1980.

Gov't. §§ 66950 et seq..

Bond issue of $85,000,000 to be used for the acquisition of property in the Lake Tahoe region for public purposes.

3

Insurance guarantee funds. Tax offset.
1980 Cal Res. 10
ACA 30

Art XIII § 28(k)

Authorizes enactment of statutes by the Legislature to establish insurance guarantee funds or associations for the purpose of paying claims against insolvent insurers. Such legislation could also provide that contributions to such funds or associations by insurers may be allowed as a deductible offset against their annual gross premium tax.

4

Taxation. Real property. Property acquisition by taxing entity.
1980 Cal. Res. 10
ACA 26

Art XIIIA § 1

Permits an increase in ad valorem taxes on real property or special assessments to pay for interest and redemption charges on an indebtedness, approved by two thirds of the voters, for the acquisition or improvement by the taxing entity of real property and tangible personal property necessary for its use. Authorizes an increase in such taxes or special assessments to be used in connection with refunding previously approved indebtedness issued in accordance with law.

5

Taxation. Real property valuation. Disasters, seismic safety, change in ownership.
1980 Cal. Res. 45
ACA 3

Art XIIIA § 2 (c, d, e)

Provides that in valuing real property: "newly constructed" shall not include reconstruction of comparable improvement after a disaster, as defined by Legislature, or reconstruction or improvement to comply with seismic safety laws; and "change in ownership: shall not include the acquisition of comparable real property as a replacement for property damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster or if the person acquiring the property was displaced by eminent domain proceedings, acquisition by governmental agency or inverse condemnation.

6

Number of jurors in civil cases.
1980 Cal. Res. 47
SCA 14

Art I § 16

Authorizes Legislature to reduce required size of juries in civil cases in municipal or justice court. Legislature may reduce juries in these courts from 12 persons to 8 persons, or a lesser number agreed on by the parties in open court.

7

Taxation. Real property valuation. Solar energy systems.
1980 Cal. Res. 48
SCA 28

Art XIIIA § 2

Authorizes Legislature to provide that, in valuing real property, the term "newly constructed" shall not include the construction or addition of any active solar energy system.

8

Water resources development and protection.
1980 Cal. Res. 49
ACA 90

Art XA

Amendment not effective unless SB 200 (1980) enacted and takes effect. SB 200 adds several units to Central Valley Project, including delta peripheral canal, and specifies requirements for these. Provides no statute changing specified provisions of SB 200 protecting existing water rights, water quality, and fish and wildlife resources, or the Delta Protection Act, becomes effective unless approved by electors or, under specified conditions, by two thirds vote in each legislative house. Restricts appropriations for specified water exportations. Restricts eminent domain proceedings in delta. Establishes Sacramento County venue and sets court preferences for handling actions.

9

California safe drinking water bond law of 1976.
1980 Cal. Stat. 252
AB 2404

Water § 13861

Amends California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law by authorizing Legislature to increase from $15,000,000 to $30,000,000 the amount of previously authorized bond proceeds that may be used for grants to political subdivisions, owning or operating domestic water systems, upon determination that such subdivisions are otherwise unable to meet minimum safe drinking water standards. Provides that up to $15,000,000 of the $30,000,000 may be used for grants for construction, improvement or rehabilitation of domestic water systems which have become contaminated by organic or inorganic compounds, or radiation.

10

Smoking and no smoking sections act of 1980. Smoking and Non-smoking sections.
Initiative statute

Health & Safety §§ 25930 et seq.

Provides for designation of smoking and no smoking sections in every enclosed public place, enclosed place of employment, enclosed educational facility, enclosed health facility and enclosed clinic. Does not limit smoking in outdoor areas or private residences. Establishes criteria for defining smoking and nonsmoking sections. Requires signs be posted designating nonsmoking area. Violation is infraction punishable by $15 fine per violation. Provides no person may be taken into custody or subject to search for violation. Allows enactment of further legislation and regulations relating to smoking. Requires implementation standards be adopted by Department of Health Services.

11

Judges salaries.
1980 Cal. Res. 77
SCA 37

Art III § 4

Establishes base salary of a judge of a court of record, beginning on January 1, 1981, as equal the annual salary payable as of July 1, 1980, for that office had the judge been elected in 1978. Provides Legislature may prescribe salary increases during a term of office, may terminate prospective increases at any time during a term of office, but shall not reduce a salary during a term of office below the highest level paid during that term. Provides that laws setting the salaries of judges shall not constitute an obligation of contract.