Elections: initiatives and referenda: withdrawal.

Existing law authorizes the proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure to withdraw the measure after filing the initiative or referendum petition with the appropriate elections official at any time before the Secretary of State certifies that the measure has qualified for the ballot, as provided. Existing law requires, for the withdrawal of an initiative or referendum measure after the petition has been filed with the appropriate elections official, all of the proponents to file a written notice with the Secretary of State to withdraw the measure. This bill would instead require a majority of the proponents to file a written notice with the Secretary of State to withdraw the statewide initiative or referendum measure after the petition has been filed with the appropriate elections official. The bill would also authorize the proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure to file a notice of withdrawal with the Secretary of State that is contingent upon the enactment of a particular legislative measure, as specified. The bill would require the Secretary of State to deem a written notice of contingent withdrawal of a statewide initiative or referendum effective if the legislative measure identified in the notice is enacted and given a chapter number by the Secretary of State before the Secretary of State has certified that the statewide initiative or referendum measure has qualified for the ballot, as specified. If the legislative measure is not given a chapter number by the Secretary of State before the Secretary of State has certified that the statewide initiative or referendum measure has qualified for the ballot, as specified, or is amended after the notice of contingent withdrawal is filed, the withdrawal of the initiative or referendum measure would not be given effect.