Welcome back to your favorite part of any election year....Handel's voting guide!
Every Tuesday from now until the election, he'll be breaking down all 12 propositions on the California ballot, all of which will be uploaded here.
But before we go any further, buckle up for Handel's patented voting guide disclaimer:
"IF YOU USE THIS GUIDE TO VOTE AND USE MY DECISIONS TO DECIDE HOW TO VOTE, YOU'RE FIRED AS A KFI LISTENER AND ARE A MORON....also no animals were harmed in the making of this voter guide."
Now some actual important things to know:
- This guide will be continuously updated over the next few weeks as we come up to voting day on Tuesday November 3rd.
- All opinions in this guide are just that...OPINIONS!
- If you choose to follow what Bill says....well first off why? And secondly, take it all with a grain of salt and use the actual information we provide to make an informed decision.
And since this election year is unlike any other, because you know....pandemic.....another bit of info to know for those voting by mail:
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. All of California's registered voters will be mailed a ballot no later than 29 days prior to Election Day. Early voting and in-person voting locations will also be available to voters.
Now that that's all settled, let's dive in!
Props:
Proposition 14: Stem Cell Research Institute Bond Initiative
What is it?
- Authorizes $5.5 billion in state general obligation bonds to fund grants from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to educational, non-profit, and private entities for: stem cell and other medical research, including training; stem cell therapy development and delivery; research facility construction; and associated administrative expenses.
- Dedicates $1.5 billion to research and therapy for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, and other brain and central nervous system diseases and conditions.
- Appropriates General Fund moneys to pay bond debt service.
- Expands programs promoting stem cell and other medical research, therapy development and delivery, and student and physician training and fellowships
What is it?
- Increases funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by requiring that commercial and industrial real property be taxed based on current market value, instead of purchase price.
- Exempts from taxation changes: residential properties; agricultural land; and owners of commercial and industrial properties with combined value of $3 million or less.
- Any additional educational funding will supplement existing school funding guarantees.
- Exempts small businesses from personal property tax; for other businesses, provides $500,000 exemption.
Proposition 16: Repeal Proposition 209 Affirmative Action Amendment (2020)
What is it?
- Permits government decision-making policies to consider race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin to address diversity by repealing article I, section 31, of the California Constitution, which was added by Proposition 209 in 1996.
- Proposition 209 generally prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, individuals or groups on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, education, or contracting.
- Does not alter other state and federal laws guaranteeing equal protection and prohibiting unlawful discrimination
Proposition 17: Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment (2020)
What is it?
- Amends state constitution to restore voting rights to persons who have been disqualified from voting while serving a prison term as soon as they complete their prison term
Proposition 18, Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds Amendment (2020)
What is it?
- Amends constitution to permit 17-year-olds who will be at least 18 years old and otherwise eligible to vote at the time of the next general election to vote in any primary or special election that occurs before the next general election
What is it?
- Permits homeowners who are 55, severely disabled, or whose homes were destroyed by wildfire or disaster, to transfer their primary residence’s property tax base value to a replacement residence of any value, anywhere in the state.
- Limits tax benefits for certain transfers of real property between family members.
- Expands tax benefits for transfers of family farms.
- Allocates most resulting state revenues and savings (if any) to fire protection services and reimbursing local governments for taxation-related changes
Proposition 20, Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative (2020)
What is it?
- Limits access to parole programs established for non-violent offenders who have completed the full term of their primary offense by eliminating eligibility for certain offenses.
- Changes standards and requirements governing parole decisions under this program.
- Authorizes felony charges for specified theft crimes currently chargeable only as misdemeanors, including some theft crimes where the value is between $250 and $950.
- Requires persons convicted of specified misdemeanors to submit to collection of DNA samples for state database.
Proposition 21, Local Rent Control Initiative (2020)
What is it?
- Amends state law to allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old. Allows local limits on annual rent increases to differ from current statewide limit.
- Allows rent increases in rent-controlled properties of up to 15 percent over three years at start of new tenancy (above any increase allowed by local ordinance).
- Exempts individuals who own no more than two homes from new rent-control policies.
- In accordance with California law, prohibits rent control from violating landlords’ right to fair financial return.
Proposition 22, App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative (2020)
What is it?
- Classifies drivers for app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery companies as “independent contractors,” not “employees,” unless company: sets drivers’ hours, requires acceptance of specific ride and delivery requests, or restricts working for other companies.
- Independent contractors are not covered by various state employment laws—including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.
- Instead, independent-contractor drivers would be entitled to other compensation—including minimum earnings, healthcare subsidies, and vehicle insurance.
- Restricts certain local regulation of app-based drivers.
- Criminalizes impersonation of drivers
Proposition 23, Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative (2020)
What is it?
- Requires at least one licensed physician on site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics; authorizes California Department of Public Health to exempt clinics from this requirement if there is a shortage of qualified licensed physicians and the clinic has at least one nurse practitioner or physician assistant on site.
- Requires clinics to report dialysis-related infection data to state and federal governments.
- Prohibits clinics from closing or reducing services without state approval.
- Prohibits clinics from refusing to treat patients based on the source of payment for care
Proposition 24, Consumer Personal Information Law and Agency Initiative (2020)
What is it?
- Permits consumers to: (1) prevent businesses from sharing personal information; (2) correct inaccurate personal information; and (3) limit businesses’ use of “sensitive personal information”—including precise geolocation; race; ethnicity; religion; genetic data; private communications; sexual orientation; and specified health information.
- Establishes California Privacy Protection Agency to additionally enforce and implement consumer privacy laws and impose fines.
- Changes criteria for which businesses must comply with laws.
- Prohibits businesses’ retention of personal information for longer than reasonably necessary.
- Triples maximum penalties for violations concerning consumers under age 16.
- Authorizes civil penalties for theft of consumer login information, as specified
Proposition 25, Replace Cash Bail with Risk Assessments Referendum (2020)
What is it?
- A “Yes” vote approves, and a “No” vote rejects, a 2018 law that:
- Replaced the money bail system (for obtaining release from jail before trial) with a system based on a determination of public safety and flight risk.
- Limits detention of a person in jail before trial for most misdemeanors.