California Ballot Propositions 1980-1989

JUNE 5, 1984 | NOVEMBER 6, 1984

16

County jail capital expenditure bond act of 1984.
1984 Cal. Stat. 4
SB 310

Penal §§ 4450 - 57

Provides for the construction, reconstruction, remodeling and replacement of county jails and the performance of deferred maintenance thereon pursuant to a bond issue of $250,000,000.

17

1984 Cal Stat. 4
New prison construction bond act of 1984.
SB 310

Penal §§ 7200 - 11

Provides for the construction, renovation, remodeling and deferred maintenance of state correctional facilities pursuant to a bond issue of $300,000,000.

18

1984 Cal. Stat. 5
California park & recreational facilities act of 1984.
AB 2099

Pub. Res. §§ 5096.225 - .267

Bond issue of $370,000,000 to be used for specified acquisition, development, rehabilitation or restoration of real property by state, counties, cities and districts for park, beach, recreational or historical preservation purposes.

19

Fish & wildlife habitat enhancement act of 1984.
1984 Cal Stat. 6
SB 512

Fish & Game §§ 2600 - 51

Bond issue of $85,000,000 to be available for appropriation to the Wildlife Conservation Board and the State Coastal Conservancy for specified acquisition, enhancement and development of habitat areas.

20

Elected officials. Disqualification for libelous or slanderous campaign statements.
1982 Cal. Res. 181
ACA 74

Art VII § 10

Provides that no person who is found liable in a civil action for making libelous or slanderous statements against an opposing candidate during an election campaign shall retain the seat to which elected where it is judicially found that: (1) the libel or slander was a major contributing cause in the defeat of an opposing candidate and (2) the statement was made with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or true. Contains other provisions.

21

Public pension fund investments.
1983 Cal. Res. 105
ACA 16

Art XVI § 17

Deletes constitutional provisions specifying percentage and type of stocks and corporations in which public pension funds may invest. Substitutes provisions empowering Legislature to authorize investment of public pension funds by fiduciary who must discharge duties solely in interest and for exclusive purposes of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries, minimizing employer contributions, and defraying reasonable administrative expenses; discharge duties pursuant to specified prudent person standard; and diversify investments pursuant to specified standard. Declares public pension funds assets are trust funds held for exclusive purpose of providing benefits and defraying reasonable administrative expenses.

22

Exempt state civil service positions.
1983 Cal. Res. 107
ACA 26

Art VII § 4

Adds the following positions to the list of officers and employees of the state that are exempt from civil service: the chief investment officer, the assistant chief investment officer and principal fund managers of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the State Teachers' Retirement System.

23

Property taxation. Seismic safety construction exclusion.
1984 Cal. Res. 2
SCA 14

Art XIIIA § 2

Under the present provisions of the Constitution, real property is reassessed for taxation purposes when new construction occurs. An exception is made for specified reconstruction done after a disaster. Adds an additional exception where an unreinforced masonry bearing wall is reconstructed or improved. This measure excludes the portion of such reconstruction or improvement necessary to comply with any local ordinance relating to seismic safety from reassessment during the first 15 years following the reconstruction or improvement.

24

Legislature: Rules, procedures, powers, funding.
Initiative statute
Gann

Gov't. §§ 9900 - 37

Specifies that membership on Senate and Assembly Rules Committees shall consist of members from two largest parties accords largest party a one-vote majority. Specifies that membership on other house legislative committees shall be proportional to partisan composition in each house. Specifies that each house and specified legislative committees approve, among other things, by two-thirds vote, rules, committee establishment, appointments by Speaker and disbursement of funds. Reduces Legislature's support appropriations by 30%, limits future support appropriations and requires specified public reports and audits. Specifies other procedural, operational, staffing and funding requirements.

25

Clean water bond law of 1984.
1984 Cal. Stat. 377
AB 1732

Water §§ 13999 - .16

Bond issue of $325,000,000 to provide funds for water pollution control, water conservation and water reclamation projects and activities.

26

State school building lease - purchase bond law of 1984.
1984 Cal. Stat. 375
SB 125

Educ. §§ 17695 - .95

Bond issue of $450,000,000 to provide capital outlay for construction or improvement of public schools.

27

Hazardous substance cleanup bond act.
1984 Cal. Stat. 376
SB 1465

Health & Safety 24385 - 85.6

Provides for a bond issue of $100,000,000 to provide funds for hazardous substance cleanup.

28

California safe drinking water bond law of 1984.
1984 Cal. Stat. 378
AB 2183

Water §§ 13810 - 45

Bond issue of $75,000,000 to provide funds for improvement of domestic water systems to meet minimum drinking water standards.

29

Veterans bond act of 1984
1984 Cal. Stat. 391
AB 2354

Mil. & Vet. §§ 998.063 - .073

Bond issue of $650,000,000 to provide farm and home aid for California veterans.

30

Senior center bond act of 1984.
1984 Cal. Stat. 575
SB 1359

Welf. & Inst. 9450 - 66

Bond issue of $50,000,000 to provide funds for senior centers.

31

Property taxation. Fire protection systems exclusion.
1984 Cal. Res. 56
SCA 58

Art XIIIA § 2

Under the present provisions of the Constitution, real property is reassessed for taxation purposes when new construction occurs. Exceptions are made for reconstruction after a disaster and for certain solar energy and seismic safety construction. This measure allows the Legislature to add additional exceptions for the construction or installation of any fire sprinkler system, other fire extinguishing system, fire detection system or fire-related egress improvement, as defined by the Legislature, which is constructed or installed after the effective date of this measure.

32

Supreme Court. Transfer of causes and review of decisions.
1984 Cal. Res. 64
SCA 29

Art VI § 12

Adds a provision that the Supreme Court may review part and not necessarily all of a court of appeal decision. Requires the Judicial Council to provide rules governing the time and procedure for transfer and for review, including, among other things, provisions for the time and procedure for transfer with instructions, for review of all or part of a decision, and for remand as improvidently granted. Provides that this constitutional amendment shall not apply to an appeal involving a judgment of death.

33

Property tax postponement. Disabled person.
1984 Cal. Res. 65
ACA 66

Art XIIIA § 8.5

Under the present provisions of the Constitution, the Legislature may provide for a person of low or moderate income who is 62 years of age or older to postpone payment of ad valorem property taxes on a dwelling owned and occupied by the person as a principal place of residence. This measure allows the Legislature also to provide for a disabled person to postpone payment of ad valorem property taxes on a dwelling owned and occupied by the person as a principal place of residence.

34

Property taxation. Historic structure exclusion.
1984 Cal. Res. 66
ACA 69

Art XIIIA § 2

Under present Constitution provisions, real property is reassessed for taxation purposes when new construction occurs. Exceptions are made for reconstruction after a disaster and for certain solar energy and seismic safety construction. This measure adds additional exceptions for specified construction on certified historic structures that are dwellings occupied by an owner as a principal residence. The exclusion applies to any addition to, or alteration or rehabilitation of, a certified historic structure which is a historically accurate reconstruction of once extant features, necessary for safety or handicapped access, or required by safety codes.

35

Balanced Federal Budget.
Initiative

n/a

Govt. §§ 8901 - 8903

Called on Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution; mandated State Legislature to adopt said resolution and provided for sanctions if it failed to do so; provided for forwarding resolution to Congress despite legislative inaction. (California Supreme Court held that proposition was not an exercise of legislative power reserved to the people under the California Constitution and removed it from ballot. Pre-election review was also held proper. AFL-CIO v. Eu, 36 Cal. 3d 687 (1984)).

36

Taxation.
Initiative constitutional amendment

Art XIIIA

Amends Art XIIIA, enacted as Proposition 13 in 1978, adding restrictions on real property taxation, enactment of new tax measures and charging fees. Prohibits imposition of new taxes based upon real property ownership, sale or lease. Prohibits increasing other taxes except upon two-thirds vote of Legislature for state taxes and two-thirds vote of electorate for local government taxes. Restricts imposition of fees exceeding direct costs of services provided. Provides specified refunds including taxes attributable to assessed value inflation adjustments in assessment years 1976-1977 through 1978-79. Makes other changes. Operative date for specified provisions - August 15, 1983.

37

State lottery. (California state lottery act of 1984)
Initiative constitutional amendment & statute

Art IV § 19, Gov't. §§ 8880 - .71

Authorizes establishment of a state lottery and prohibits casinos. Provides for establishment of a state-operated lottery. Of the total lottery revenues, requires that 50% be returned as prizes, not more than 16% be used for expenses, and at least 34% be used for public education. Requires that per capita amounts of the funds for education be distributed to kindergarten-through-12 districts, community college districts, State and University and Colleges and University of California. Contains numerous specific provisions concerning the operation and administration of lotteries and funds.

38

Voting materials in English only.
Initiative statute

Stats. 1984, pg. A-237

States declaration of public policy concerning use of common English language. Requires the Governor to write to the President of the United States, the United States Attorney General, and all members of Congress, a communication urging that federal law be amended so that ballots, voters' pamphlets and all other official voting materials shall be printed in English only.

39

Reapportionment.
Initiative constitutional amendment & statute

Art IV, VI § 17, VI A, XXI; Elec. §§ 30000 -

Repeals existing constitutional and statutory provisions. Adds provisions specifying criteria and procedures to reapportion Senate, Assembly, congressional and equalization districts for 1986 elections and after each decennial census. Establishes new commission to adopt plans. Commission composed of eight former appellate court justices

40

Campaign contribution limitations. Elective state office.
Initiative statute

Gov't. §§ 81001.5, 82027.3, 82027.5, 82038.5, 82047.5, 83116, 85100 et seq.

Limits contributors and contributions to elective state office candidates. Limits contributions to individuals, political action committees, parties. Individuals' yearly contributions limited to $1,000 per candidate. Allows candidate expenditures only from designated account for legitimate campaign expenditures. Regulates independent expenditures, loans and surplus contributions. Candidates may expend personal funds without limit. Provides limited public funding for candidates to match opposition candidates' personal expenditures.

41

The 1984 State Welfare Reform Act. Public aid & medical assistance programs.
Initiative statute

Welf. & Inst. §§ 10300 - 53

Establishes Public Assistance Commission to survey annually and report on state per capita expenditures and state and county administrative costs of public aid and medical assistance programs in California and other states. Limits expenditures for benefits under each program to the national average expenditure, excluding California, plus 10%. Permits increase in any program expenditure upon majority vote of Legislature so long as total of expenditures do not exceed limit. Defines programs included; exempts specified programs. Provides for amendment by two-thirds vote of Legislature after specified public notice. Makes other provisions.