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O l s o n H a g e l & F i s h b u r n L L P
5 5 5 C a p i t o l M a l l , S u i t e 1 4 2 5 , S a c r a m e n t o , C A 9 5 8 1 4
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Every ballot measure that goes before the voters is included in a ballot pamphlet distributed tothe voters “to inform the prospective signer of the general purpose of the proposal, and to protect him
from being misled or imposed upon
.” (
Clark v. Jordan
(1936) 7 Cal.2d 248, 252, italics added.) The ballot pamphlet includes the following: the text of the measure to be considered; a 100-word title andsummary
and shorter ballot label prepared by the Attorney General, which are to be a “fair andimpartial” presentation of the measure; an “impartial analysis” prepared by the Legislative Analyst’sOffice; and the arguments and rebuttals for and against the measure. (Elec. Code, §§ 9050-9052, 9080-9096, 13247, 13280-81; see also Gov. Code, §§ 88001-88003.) The essential purpose of the official ballot pamphlet is “to give the voters information concerning the measures on the ballot.” (
Hart v. Jordan
(1939) 14 Cal.2d 288, 292.)On February 20, 2009, the Governor signed a series of bills adopted by the Legislaturecollectively referred to as the “budget package.” A number of elements of this package were, however,outside the authority of the Legislature to adopt directly; as a way of dealing with this problem, the package included SB 19, which sets a special election for May 19, 2009 and places several measuresthat require voter approval on that ballot, designated as Propositions 1A through 1F. (RJN, Ex. A.)This action concerns the ballot materials for Proposition 1E, a measure that proposes to divertapproximately a half billion dollars from the Mental Health Services Fund established by Proposition 63in 2004 and use that money to offset the State’s General Fund obligation for an existing mental health program, the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (“EPSDT”). The actualchanges to Proposition 63 are set forth in SB 10. (RJN, Ex. B.) Because Proposition 63 was adopted byvoter initiative, and because the proposed changes are inconsistent with the requirements and purposesof Proposition 63, the proposed changes must be approved by the voters.In addition to setting the special election, SB 19 changes or overrides the normal Elections Code procedures that are designed to safeguard the integrity of the information provided to voters. For the sixmeasures to be considered at the special election, the Legislature has taken the responsibility for preparing the ballot label and title and summary away from the Attorney General and has imposed its
1
Elections Code sections 9050 and 9051 refer only to preparation of the “title,” but because the Attorney General is allowed100 words in which to explain the measure, it is typically referred to as the “title and summary.” ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ MPA iso VERIFIED PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDATE
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