SB 1369

(1) Existing law requires a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition that is required to be signed by voters to contain specified notices, including a notice that the petition may be circulated by a paid signature gatherer or volunteer. This bill would additionally require the paid signature gatherer to orally disclose to each person, before providing the petition for the person’s signature, that they are being paid to circulate the petition. (2) Existing law requires proponents of the recall of an elective officer to file and publish a notice of intention to circulate the recall petition. The notice of intention must contain a statement of the reasons for the proposed recall. This bill would require the proponents of the recall to sign the statement of reasons under penalty of perjury. By requiring the statement to be signed under penalty of perjury, the bill would create a new crime and therefore establish a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law requires a recall petition for a local officer to be submitted to the elections official within a specified number of days after the clerk notifies the proponents that the form and wording of the petition comply with certain requirements. The number of days depends upon the number of registered voters in the electoral jurisdiction. For the recall of a superior court judge, this bill would instead require the petition to be submitted within 80 days after the clerk notifies the proponents, regardless of the number of registered voters in the electoral jurisdiction. (4) 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.