(a) If a county measure qualifies for a place on the ballot, the county elections official shall transmit a copy of the measure to the county auditor and to the county counsel or to the district attorney in a county that does not have a county counsel.
(b) (1) The county counsel or district attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of the measure showing the effect of the measure on the existing law and the operation of the measure. The analysis shall include a statement indicating whether the measure was placed on the ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of voters or by the board of supervisors. The analysis shall be printed preceding the arguments for and against the measure. The analysis may not exceed 500 words in length.
(2) Additionally, the county counsel or district attorney may prepare a summary of the impartial analysis in a format that answers the questions “What does a yes vote mean?” and “What does a no vote mean?” for each measure, with the summary for each question limited to 75 words or less. If the county counsel or district attorney prepares a summary pursuant to this paragraph, it may be included in the county voter information guide.
(3) If the entire text of the measure is not printed on the ballot, nor in the county voter information guide, there shall be printed immediately below the impartial analysis, in no less than 10-point boldface type, a legend substantially as follows:
“The above statement is an impartial analysis of Ordinance or Measure ____. If you desire a copy of the ordinance or measure, please call the elections official’s office at (insert telephone number) and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.”
(4) The elections official may, at his or her discretion, add the following message to the statement in paragraph (3): “You may also access the full text of the measure on the county Web site at the following Web site address (insert Web site address).”
(c) Not later than 88 days before an election that includes a county ballot measure, the board of supervisors may direct the county auditor to review the measure and determine if the substance of the county ballot measure, if adopted, would affect the revenues or expenditures of the county. He or she shall prepare a fiscal impact statement which estimates the amount of any increase or decrease in revenues or costs to the county if the proposed measure is adopted. The fiscal impact statement is “official matter” within the meaning of Section 13303, and shall be printed preceding the arguments for and against the measure. The fiscal impact statement may not exceed 500 words in length.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 42. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018