Elections: payment of expenses.

Existing law requires that all expenses authorized and necessarily incurred in the preparation for, and conduct of, elections be paid from the county treasuries, except when an election is called by the governing body of a city. This bill would additionally provide that expenses incurred for elections proclaimed by the Governor to fill a vacancy in the office of State Senator or Member of the Assembly, or to fill a vacancy in the office of United States Senator or Representative in Congress, are to be paid by the state. Where an election proclaimed by the Governor is consolidated with a local election, the bill would provide that the state would pay only those additional expenses directly related to the election proclaimed by the Governor. The bill would provide that the reimbursable expenses incurred by counties will not be reimbursed sooner than the 2011–12 fiscal year. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.