California 2008 General Election Ballot Measures
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| Proposition 1A - Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act |
Summary: Provides for
a bond issue of $9.95 billion to establish high-speed train service linking
Southern California counties, the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley, and the San
Francisco Bay Area; provides that at least 90% of these bond funds shall be
spent for specific construction projects, with private and public matching funds
required, including, but not limited to, federal funds, funds from revenue
bonds, and local funds; requires that use of all bond funds is subject to
independent audits; and appropriates money from the General Fund to pay bond
principal and interest.
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| Proposition 2 - Standards for Confining Farm Animals. Initiative Statute.
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Summary: Requires
that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only
in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their
limbs and turn around freely; exceptions made for transportation, rodeos,
fairs, 4-H programs, lawful slaughter, research and veterinary purposes. Provides
misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or
imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days.
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| Proposition 3 - Children's Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program. Initiative Statute. |
Summary: Authorizes $980,000,000 in bonds, to be repaid from state’s
General Fund, to fund the construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation,
furnishing and equipping of children’s hospitals; designates that 80 percent of
bond proceeds go to hospitals that focus on children with illnesses such as
leukemia, cancer, heart defects, diabetes, sickle cell anemia and cystic
fibrosis; requires that qualifying children’s hospitals provide comprehensive
services to a high volume of children eligible for governmental programs and
meet other requirements; and designates that 20 percent of bond proceeds go to
University of California general acute care hospitals.
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full text |
| Proposition 4
- Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Initiative Constitutional Amendment |
Summary: Changes the
California Constitution to prohibit abortion for unemancipated minor until 48
hours after physician notifies minor’s parent or legal guardian; permits
notification to certain adult relatives if doctor reports parent to law
enforcement or Child Protective Services; provides notification exceptions for
medical emergency or parental waiver; permits courts to waive notice based on
clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or best interests; mandates
reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions
on minors; authorizes damages against physicians for violation; and requires
minor’s consent to abortion, with exceptions.
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| Proposition 5 - Nonviolent Drug Offenses. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Initiative Statute. |
Summary: Allocates
$460,000,000 annually to improve and expand treatment programs for persons
convicted of drug and other offenses; limits court authority to incarcerate
offenders who commit certain drug crimes, break drug treatment rules or violate
parole; substantially shortens parole for certain drug offenses; increases
parole for serious and violent felonies; divides Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation authority between two Secretaries, one with six year fixed term
and one serving at pleasure of Governor. Provides five year fixed terms for
deputy secretaries; and creates 19 member board to direct parole and
rehabilitation policy.
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| Proposition 6 - Police and Law Enforcement Funding. Criminal Penalties and Laws. Initiative Statute. |
Summary: Requires
minimum of $965,000,000 each year to be allocated from state General Fund for
police, sheriffs, district attorneys, adult probation, jails and juvenile
probation facilities. Some of this funding will increase in following years
according to California Consumer Price Index; makes approximately 30 revisions
to California criminal law, many of which cover gang-related offenses.
Revisions create multiple new crimes and additional penalties, some with the
potential for new life sentences; and increases penalties for violating a
gang-related injunction and for felons carrying guns under certain conditions.
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| Proposition 7 - Renewable Energy Generation. Initiative Statute. |
Summary: Requires
utilities, including government-owned utilities, to generate 20% of their power
from renewable energy by 2010, a standard currently applicable only to private
electrical corporations; raises requirement for utilities to 40% by 2020 and
50% by 2025; imposes penalties, subject to waiver, for noncompliance; transfers
some jurisdiction of regulatory matters from Public Utilities Commission to
Energy Commission; fast-tracks approval for new renewable energy plants; requires
utilities to sign longer contracts (20 year minimum) to procure renewable
energy; and creates account to purchase rights-of-way and facilities for the
transmission of renewable energy.
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for full text |
| Proposition 8 - Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry. Initiative Constitutional Amendment |
Summary: Changes the
California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in
California and provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid
or recognized in California.
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for full text |
| Proposition 9 - Criminal Justice System. Victims' Rights. Parole. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. |
Summary: Requires
notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal
justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole; establishes
victim safety as consideration in determining bail or release on parole; increases
the number of people permitted to attend and testify on behalf of victims at
parole hearings; reduces the number of parole hearings to which prisoners are
entitled; requires that victims receive written notification of their
constitutional rights; and establishes timelines and procedures concerning
parole revocation hearings.
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for full text |
| Proposition 10 - Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy. Bonds. Initiative Statute. |
Summary: Provides
$3.425 billion to help consumers and others purchase certain high fuel economy
or alternative fuel vehicles, including natural gas vehicles, and to fund
research into alternative fuel technology; provides $1.25 billion for research,
development and production of renewable energy technology, primarily solar
energy with additional funding for other forms of renewable energy; incentives
for purchasing solar and renewable energy technology; provides grants to cities
for renewable energy projects and to colleges for training in renewable and
energy efficiency technologies; total funding provided is $5 billion from
general obligation bonds
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for full text |
| Proposition 11 - Redistricting. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. |
Summary: Changes
authority for establishing Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization district
boundaries from elected representatives to 14 member commission; requires
government auditors to select 60 registered voters from applicant pool. Permits
legislative leaders to reduce pool, then the auditors pick eight commission
members by lottery, and those commissioners pick six additional members for 14
total; requires commission of five Democrats, five Republicans and four of
neither party. Commission shall hire lawyers and consultants as needed; and for
approval, district boundaries need votes from three Democratic commissioners,
three Republican commissioners and three commissioners from neither party.
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| Proposition 12 - Veterans' Bond Act of 2008 |
Summary: This act
provides for a bond issue of nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) to
provide loans to California veterans to purchase farms and homes and appropriates
money from the state General Fund to pay off the bonds, if loan payments from
participating veterans are insufficient for that purpose.
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for full text
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THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS 
