GOVERNMENT RELATIONS


will lead the country. Be it a continu- ation of President Donald Trump or a Democratic challenger, the 2020 presidential election is guaranteed to increase voter participation in the Golden State. Te 2020 election will also be


2020 Election – More Than Just a President! T


By Felipe Fuentes, AGC Legislative Advocate


uesday, November 3, 2020 will bring about much excitement and fanfare over which political party


signatures from regis- tered voters amounting to 5 percent of the those that voted in the previous gubernatorial election in order to qualify an initiative for


targeted by many powerful interest groups set on capitalizing on this increased voter turnout. With a few million dollars, special interest groups can attempt to set policy through the ballot measure process. Tis direct democracy tool gives proponents of new laws or constitutional amend- ments a way to propose them for acceptance by the California electorate without the support of the Governor or the Legislature. Simply put, ballot measures allow


the enactment of law without the interference of the iterative process associated with the legislative process or by politicians.


How the Initiative Process Works


Te direct initiative process in


California allows proponents of new laws a relatively simple and straight- forward process to qualify their ballot initiative for consideration by Califor- nia’s voters. First, proponents need only draft their proposed law and submit it to the State Attorney General for title and summary - the title and summary is what proponents present to voters when asking for their signature on qualifying petitions for ballot presentation. With a $2,000 filing fee (which


is refunded if the measure qualifies for the ballot), proponents are then cleared to circulate a petition to qualify a measure for placement on the ballot. Second, proponents must collect


www.AGC-CA.org


a new statute, or signatures amounting to 8 percent of the electorate for a constitutional amendment. For 2020, that means that petitions


for new laws will need to gather 623,212 and 997,139 signatures, respectively. If qualified for the ballot, the title


and summary is what voters will see on their sample ballots as an impartial and non-partisan read of the initiative. For the 2020 general election, propo- nents of ballot measures must satisfy all the requirements set forth by the state constitution to the satisfaction of the Attorney General and Secretary of State by June 25, 2020.


Know What You’re Signing It is important that voters – and


members of the construction industry – be aware of what is being asked of them when approached by signature gatherers. Te list below, which features issues being pursued by initiative backers as described by the proponents (in bold), would have some effect on the construction industry and employer community. However, this list does not contain every initiative being considered. Tis list will be later updated with


further analysis and recommendations once measures qualify for the 2020 general election.


 Fairness for Injured Patients Act – Adjusts California’s maximum compensation cap of $250,000 set by politicians in 1975 on wrongful


death and quality of life damages that has never been updated


Not yet qualified, this measure would


favor the trial bar and allow for unlimited medical malpractice awards. Te propo- nents are expected to fully fund this effort and qualify this measure.


 California Consumer Privacy Act of 2020


Not yet qualified, this measure would


create additional challenges for all aspects of the employer community that maintain personal data and information for their employees and customers. Te measure would amend yet to be enacted regulations and enforcement for privacy law set to begin on January 1, 2020. Tis measure is expected to be fully funded and qualify for the 2020 ballot.


 California Ranked-Choice Voting Act


Not yet qualified, this measure would


amend the California Constitution and replace the recently adopted “top two” results for congressional and state elections with “ranked choice” results. Ranked choices, or instant run-off voting, is controversial and has not been adopted in the U.S except for a handful of cities.


 Measure to amends the California Constitution to replace the bicameral assembly and senate with a unicameral non-partisan legislature and increase the number of members serving the legislature


Tis measure would replace the


Bicameral Assembly and Senate with a Unicameral Non-partisan Legis- lature and would increase the number of members serving the legislature from 120 to 250 elected officials.


 The California Initiative, Refer- endum and Recall Reform Act


Tis measure would allow for


electronic signatures to be used instead of “wet” signatures for the qualification of an


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