AUTO INSURANCE PRICING
The attorney general’s official title and summary of the qualified initiative is as follows: CHANGES LAW TO ALLOW AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES TO SET PRICES BASED ON A DRIVER’S HISTORY OF INSURANCE COVERAGE. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
The measure would change current law to permit insurance companies to set prices based on whether the driver previously carried auto insurance with any insurance company. It would allow insurance companies to give proportional discounts to drivers with some prior insurance coverage and increase the cost of insurance to drivers who have not maintained continuous coverage. And it would treat drivers with a lapse as continuously covered if the lapse is due to military service or loss of employment, or if the lapse is less than 90 days in length.
The proponent of this initiative, Mike D’Arelli, can be reached at 916-283-9473.
TAX REDUCTIONS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT
The attorney general’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows: REQUIRES ASSESSMENT OF MOST COMMERCIAL PROPERTY EVERY THREE YEARS. PROVIDES TAX REDUCTION FOR HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS, AND BUSINESSES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.
The measure would change existing law to require that commercial property be assessed at fair market value at least once every three years. It would exclude residential and agricultural property. (Increased revenue is subject to Proposition 98, governing education funding.) It would double homeowners’ tax exemption and renters’ credit. It would exclude from taxation the first $1 million in tangible personal property.
According to the legislative analyst and director of finance, the fiscal impact on state and local government would be an annual state revenue increase of about $4 billion from higher property tax assessments on commercial and industrial property. New revenues would be used in part to increase state funding for schools and community colleges ($2 billion) and provide tax relief to homeowners and businesses ($1 billion). The annual local government revenue increase from higher property tax assessments on commercial and industrial property would be about $450 million.
The proponent for this measure, Margaret R. Prinzing, can be reached at 510-346-6200.
ENVIRONMENT – POLLUTER FEES
The attorney general’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows: VOTING REQUIREMENT. POLLUTER FEES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The measure would permit the legislature to pass by majority vote, rather than two-thirds, laws imposing fees, penalties and charges on businesses whose activities pollute the air or water, damage public natural resources or harm public health. It would require the state to spend the funds raised under the law only on the mitigation of actual or anticipated impacts, including enforcement costs and costs to reduce or prevent future impacts from the pollution or activity. And it would require that the amount of any fee, penalty or charge be reasonably related to the costs of mitigation.
According to the legislative analyst and director of finance, the fiscal impact on state and local government would be the potential increase in state revenues, likely ranging in the tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually, depending on future actions of the legislature. The revenues would be used to increase state spending on mitigation activities.
The proponent for this measure is Joseph Caves. No public contact information has been provided by the proponent.
PART-TIME LEGISLATURE
The attorney general’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows: PART-TIME LEGISLATURE. TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The measure would provide that the legislature shall convene regular sessions for a period of no more than 30 days starting each January and no more than 60 days starting each May, with up to five more days to reconsider bills vetoed by the governor. It would establish a two-year state budget cycle, devoting regular sessions in odd-numbered years to state budget matters, and regular sessions in even-numbered years to non-state budget matters. It would limit special sessions to 15 days. And it would set legislators’ salary at $1,500 per month and limit employment during and after their terms in office.
According to the legislative analyst and director of finance, the fiscal impact on state and local government would be a reduction in state legislative expenses for member salaries, travel and living expenses, plus staff costs – potentially in the tens of millions of dollars per year. The actual reduction would depend on future actions of the legislature and governor. The measure would result in reduced state spending or increased state revenues in some years. Over time, the net fiscal effect of the provision is unknown and would depend on future actions of the legislature, governor, state treasurer, and state controller.
The proponents for this measure, Shannon Grove and Ted Costa, can be reached at 661-327-4141.
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The attorney general’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows: POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY CORPORATIONS. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
The measure would prohibit corporations and other business entities from making contributions or expenditures for political activities without shareholders’ prior informed approval. It would reduce the total amount of any contribution or expenditure approved by the percentage of shares not voted for approval. It would define political activities to include those related to candidates, ballot measures, issue advocacy, political parties, committees, voter registration or any other political or legislative causes. It would impose criminal penalties for violations against persons spending, consenting to or receiving prohibited contributions or expenditures. And it would require detailed reporting to shareholders.
According to the legislative analyst and director of finance, the fiscal impacts on state and local government would be increased annual state enforcement costs of potentially several hundred thousand dollars, partially offset by increased fine revenues.
The proponent of this measure, Thomas A. Willis, can be reached at 510-346-6200.
TUITION AND FEE TAX AT CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
The attorney general’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows: TAX TO PAY TUITION AND FEES AT CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.
The measure would add .7 percent to the personal income tax rate applied to taxable income over $250,000 (over $342,465 if filing as head of household), and add 1.7 percent to the personal income tax rate applied to taxable income over $500,000 (over $684,930 if filing as head of household). And it would allocate the new revenue to pay up to four years’ tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate California residents attending University of California or California State University schools so long as they maintain a minimum 2.7 grade point average or perform 70 hours of annual community service.
According to the legislative analyst and director of finance, the fiscal impact on state and local government would be an annual loss of state tuition revenue of about $2.8 billion per year beginning in 2013-14, backfilled by additional state personal income tax revenue likely to total $2 billion or more per year. Potential shortfalls in university resources in some fiscal years would need to be addressed through some combination of cost reductions and alternative funding sources, which could create pressure on the state General Fund.
The proponents for this measure, Suneal Kolluri, Richard Boettner and Kara Duros, can be reached at suneal@gmail.com, richlizalex@sbcglobal.net and karaac@gmail.com.
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