Sen. Melissa A. Melendez

The California Constitution requires any change in state statute that increases the tax liability of any taxpayer to be imposed by an act approved by 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature, and prohibits specified taxes on real property from being so imposed. For these purposes, the California Constitution defines a tax as any state levy, charge, or exaction, except as described in certain categories. This measure would additionally require any change in state statute that increases the tax liability of any taxpayer to be submitted to the electors and, if approved by a majority of votes on the issue, to take effect the day after the election unless the act provides otherwise.

This measure would designate the month of January 2020 as Positive Parenting Awareness Month in California.

Existing law requires the Attorney General, upon receipt of the text of a proposed initiative or referendum measure, to prepare a circulating title and summary of the chief purposes and points of the proposed measure that includes an estimate of the financial impact of the proposed measure. Existing law requires the Attorney General to prepare a ballot title and summary for each measure that the Secretary of State determines will appear on the ballot at a statewide election. This bill would instead require the Legislative Analyst to carry out these responsibilities. The bill would make the operation of this requirement contingent upon approval by the voters of ACA ___ of the 2019–20 Regular Session.

The California Constitution provides that the electors may propose a statute or an amendment to the California Constitution by initiative and approve or reject a statute by referendum. An initiative measure may be proposed by presenting to the Secretary of State a petition that sets forth the text of the proposed statute or amendment to the Constitution and is certified to have been signed by the required number of electors, as prescribed. A referendum measure may be proposed by presenting to the Secretary of State a petition that sets forth the statute or part of the statute to be submitted to the electors, and is certified to have been signed by the required number of electors. Before the circulation of an initiative or referendum petition for signatures, the California Constitution requires that a copy of the petition be submitted to the Attorney General, who must prepare a title and summary of the measure. Existing statutory law also directs the Attorney General to prepare the ballot label and the ballot title and summary that is included in the state voter information guide for each measure that appears on a statewide ballot. This measure would transfer from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst the duty of preparing the title and summary for a proposed initiative or referendum. The measure would also require, for each measure that appears on a statewide ballot, the Legislative Analyst to prepare the ballot label and the ballot title and summary for the state voter information guide.

This measure would proclaim January 13, 2020, as Korean American Day.

This measure would honor the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The Personal Income Tax Law imposes taxes on income and provides definitions of specified terms for purposes of that law, including a definition for "taxable year." This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that definition provision.

Existing law authorizes the sheriff of a county, or the chief or other head of a municipal police department, upon proof that the person applying is of good moral character, that good cause exists, and that the person applying satisfies certain conditions, to issue a license for the person to carry a concealed handgun. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those provisions.

The Legislative Open Records Act authorizes any person to inspect legislative records, as defined, subject to specified exemptions. This bill would make available under the act certain records regarding harassment, discrimination, or other misconduct complaints made against a Member of the Legislature or a high-level employee, as defined, if the complaint is found to be true, discipline is imposed as a result of the complaint, or there is reasonable cause to believe that the complaint is well-founded. The bill would authorize redaction of certain information of the accuser, the person who made the complaint, if different than the accuser, and witnesses.