Local referenda and charter amendments: withdrawal.

Existing law authorizes the proponent of a county, municipal, or district initiative to withdraw the initiative at any time before the 88th day before the election, whether or not the petition has already been found sufficient by the elections official. This bill would authorize the proponent of a county, municipal, or district referendum to withdraw the referendum at any time before the 88th day before the election, whether or not the petition has already been found sufficient by the elections official. The bill would grant the same authority to withdraw to the proponent of an amendment of a city or county charter. Because the exercise of this authority would impose associated duties on local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.