California Ballot Propositions 1990-1999

MARCH 1996 | NOVEMBER 5, 1996

Voter Information Guide
Voter Results

192

Seismic retrofit bond act of 1996
1995 Cal. Stat. 310
SB 146

Gov't §§ 88790 - 8879.17

Bond issue of $2,000,000,000 to provide funds for a seismic retrofit program.

193

Property appraisal exception. Grandparent-grandchild transfer
1994 Cal. Res. 110
ACA 17

Art XIIIA § 2(h)

Amends State Constitution by not requiring new appraisal of real property upon purchase or transfer between grandparents and their grandchild, subject to certain conditions.

194

Prisoners. Joint venture program. Unemployment benefits. Parole
1995 Cal. Stat. 440

Penal § 2717.9

Provides that prisoner's employment in a joint venture program while in prison does not entitle the prisoner to unemployment benefits upon release from prison.

195

Punishment. Special circumstances. Carjacking. Murder of juror. Capital punishment
1995 Cal. Stat. 477
SB 32

Penal § 190.2

Adds murder during carjacking, murder resulting from carjacking kidnap and intentional murder of juror to the list of special circumstances for the death penalty or life imprisonment without possibility of parole for defendants convicted of first degree murder. If this proposition and Proposition 196 pass, driveway shootings, carjacking and juror murder become special circumstances.

196

Punishment for murder. Special circumstances. Driveway shooting. Capital punishment
1995 Cal. Stat. 478
SB 9

Penal § 190.2

Adds driveway shootings to the list of special circumstances for the death penalty or life imprisonment without possibility of parole for defendants convicted of first degree murder. If this proposition and Proposition 195 pass, driveway shootings, murder resulting from carjacking and juror murder become special circumstances.

197

Amendment of the California wildlife protection act of 1990. Mountain lions. Mountain lion hunting
1995 Cal. Stat. 779
SB 28

Fish & Game §§ 2786, 2787, 4800, 4801, 4801.5, 4806

Authorizes the Legislature to manage mountain lions to protect the people and resources of California. Repeals mountain lion's status as specially protected mammal.

198

Elections. Open primary
Initiative statute

Elec. §§ 2001, 2151, 13102, 13203, 13206, 13230, 13301, 13302

Provides that all persons entitled to vote can vote for any candidate regardless of the candidate's political affiliation. Provides for a single primary ballot on which the names of all candidates are placed.

199

Repeal mobile home rent control laws. Limits on mobile home rent control. Low income rental assistance.
(Mobile home fairness & rental assistance act)
Initiative statute

Civil §§ 798.44 - 798.44.7, 798.46.1 - 798.46.4

Phases out local rent control laws on mobile homes. Prohibits new state and local rent control on mobile homes. Provides limited private sector rent subsidy for low income, mobile home tenants.

200

No-fault auto insurance. Pure no-fault auto insurance act
Initiative statute

Ins. §§ 12800 - 12815, 12820 - 12824, 12830, 12831, 12840 - 12844, 12850

Requires insurer to pay benefits regardless of fault in most motor vehicle accidents. Requires motor vehicle insurance with specified benefits and coverage for injury. Requires prompt payment or arbitration of claims.

201

Attorney's fees. Shareholder actions. Class Actions. Shareholder litigation reform act
Initiative statute

Corp. § § 15701, 15702

Requires losing party to pay winning party attorneys' fees and expenses in shareholder actions and class action suits for violation of securities laws. Payment not required if position substantially justified and payment unjust. Losing attorney may be required to pay. Plaintiff's bond may be required.

202

Limit contingent fees; Attorney. Lawyer contingent fee limitation act
Initiative statute

Bus. & Prof. §§ 6146.1 - 6146.6

Limits plaintiff's contingency fee arrangements in tort cases. Requires demand be made against defendants and permits prompt settlement offer response. If accepted, limits fees to 15% of offer. If not accepted, larger fees can be collected only on amounts in excess of prompt settlement offer.

203

School construction bond. Public education facilities bond act of 1996
1996 Cal. Stat. 1
AB 1168

Educ. §§ 100,000 et seq.

This $3,000,000,000 school construction bond would help upgrade and construct classrooms, libraries and other needed facilities in California's public schools, community colleges and state universities. Funds will be used to make current classrooms safer in the event of earthquakes, equip classrooms for the computer technology of the 21st century, reduce class size and meet enrollment growth. These bonds may be used only for approved school construction projects.

204

Safe, clean, reliable water supply act
1996 Cal. Stat. 135
SB 900

Water §§ 13459.5, 14058, 78500 - 78702

Bond issue of $995,000,000 to provide funds to ensure safe drinking water, increase water supplies, clean up pollution in rivers, streams, lakes, bays and coastal areas, protect life and property from flooding and protect fish and wildlife and makes changes in the Water Conservation and Quality Bond Law of 1986 and the Clean Water and Water Reclamation Bond Law of 1988 to further these goals.

205

Youthful & adult offender local facilities bond act of 1996
1996 Cal. Stat. 160
AB 3116

Penal §§ 4498 - 4499.9

Bond issue of $700,000,000 to provide funds for the construction, renovation, remodeling and replacement of local juvenile and adult correctional facilities.

206

Veterans' bond act of 1996
1996 Cal. Stat. 161
SB 852

Mil. & Vet. §§ 998.200 - 998.215

Bond issue of $400,000,000 to provide farm and home aid for California veterans.

207

Frivolous lawsuit limitation act. Attorneys. Fees. Right to negotiate
Initiative statute

Bus. & Prof. § 6089.5, 6146.1, 6146.5, Civ. Proc. § 128.7

Except as allowed by laws in effect on January 1, 1995, prohibits restrictions on the right to negotiate amount of attorneys' fees. Prohibits attorneys from charging excessive fees. Authorizes court to impose sanctions for filing frivolous lawsuit or pleading.

208

California political reform act of 1996. Campaign contributions & spending limits. Restricts lobbyists
Initiative statute

Gov't. §§ 82039, 83116 - 83116.5, 83124, 84201, 84305.5, 84501 - 84508, 85100 - 85102, 85202 - 85206, 85301 - 85313, 85400 - 85404, 85500, 85600 - 85602, 85700 - 85706, 85802, 89519, 91000, 91004, 91005.5. Elec. § 20300. Effective date: January 1, 1997

Limits campaign contributions to $500 statewide elections, $250 large districts, $100 smaller districts. Incentives for voluntary spending limits. Prohibits lobbyist contributions.

209

California civil rights initiative. Prohibition against discrimination or preferential treatment by state & other public entities
Initiative constitutional amendment

Art I, § 31

Generally prohibits discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education and contracting.

210

Living wage act of 1996. Minimum wage increase
Initiative statute

Labor § 1182.11

Increases the state minimum wage for all industries to $5.00/hour o March 1, 1997 and to $5.75/hour on March 1, 1998.

211

Retirement savings & consumer protection act. Attorney-client fee arrangements. Securities fraud. Lawsuits
Initiative statute

Corp. §§ 25400.1, 25500.1, 25505.1; Bus. & Prof. § 6146.6

Prohibits restrictions on attorney-client fee arrangements, except as allowed by laws existing on January 1, 1995. Prohibits deceptive conduct by any person in securities transactions resulting in loss to retirement funds, savings.

212

Anti-corruption act of 1996. Campaign contributions & spending limits. Repeals gift & honoraria limits. Restricts lobbyists
Initiative statute

Gov't. §§ 82039, 83116.5, 84308, 84501 - 84504, 85100 - 85104, 85200, 85301 - 85317, 85401 - 85409, 86102, 86203, 87102, 89500 -, 89504 -, 89506 -, 89519, 91002, 91003, 91004, 91005, 91005.5, 91006, 91007, 91012, 91015; Rev. & Tax. §§ 17221, 24335

Repeals gift/honoraria limits. Limits contributions to $200 in state and $100 in other campaigns. Imposes spending limits. Prohibits lobbyist contributions.

213

Personal responsibility act of 1996. Limitation on recovery to felons, uninsured motorists, drunk drivers
Initiative statute

Civil §§ 3333.3, 3333.4

Denies recovery of all damages to convicted felons for crime related injury. Denies recovery of non-economic damages (e.g. pain, suffering) to drunk drivers, if convicted and most uninsured motorists.

214

Health care patient protection act of 1996. Health care. Consumer protection
Initiative statute

Health & Safety §§ 1399.900 -

Regulates health care businesses. Prohibits discouraging health care professionals from informing patients or advocating treatment. Requires health care businesses to establish criteria for payment and facility staffing.

215

Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Medical use of marijuana
Initiative statute

Health & Safety §§ 11362.5, 11357, 11358

Exempts from criminal laws patients and defined caregivers who possess or cultivate marijuana for medical treatment recommended by a physician. Provides physicians who recommend use shall not be punished.

216

Patient protection act. Health care. Consumer protection. Taxes on corporate restructuring
Initiative statute

Health & Safety §§ 1796.01 - 1796.19

Regulates health care businesses. Prohibits discouraging health care professionals from informing patients. Prohibits conditioning coverage on arbitration agreement. Establishes nonprofit consumer advocate. Imposes taxes on corporate restructuring.

217

Local control & fiscal responsibility act. Top income tax brackets. Reinstatement. Revenues to local agencies
Initiative statute

Gov't. §§ 30061; Rev. & Tax. §§ 97.42, 17041, 19603

Retroactively reinstates highest tax rates on taxpayers with taxable income over $115,000 and $230,000 (current estimates) and joint taxpayers with taxable incomes over $230,000 and $460,000 (current estimates). Allocates revenue from those rates to local agencies.

218

Right to vote on taxes act. Voter approval for local government taxes. Limitations on fees, assessments and charges
Initiative constitutional amendment

Art XIII C, Art XIII D

Requires a majority of voters to approve increases in general taxes. Requires property related assessments, fees, charges be submitted to property owners for approval.