Following are brief summaries of the measures that will appear on the November 3 General Election ballot. When the California Chamber of Commerce has taken a position, the reasons for that position are summarized. Print-friendly pdf
The CalChamber encourages employers to share this information with their employees. Businesses are within their rights to do so—just remember: NO PAYCHECK STUFFERS, no coercion, no rewarding or punishing employees (or threatening to do so) for their political activities or beliefs.
For more guidelines on political communications to employees, see the brochure at www.calchamber.com/guidelines. Note the distinction between internal communications (to employees, stockholders and their families) and communications to external audiences (such as nonstockholder retirees, outside vendors, customers and passersby).
For more information on the ballot measures, see the links listed below or visit the website of the Secretary of State at www.sos.ca.gov.
Proposition 14
Authorizes Bonds Continuing Stem Cell Research. Initiative Statute.
Authorizes $5.5 billion in state bonds for stem cell and other medical research, including training; research facility construction; administrative costs.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Proposition 14 funds further development of treatments and cures for chronic, life-threatening diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and kidney disease. Builds on medical discoveries, increases patient access and affordability, stimulates the California economy and ensures strict accountability.
More Information
www.YESon14.com
Ballot Arguments Against
Commits funding the state cannot afford during current economic and budget crisis. Funds a state agency with management challenges and poor results. Servicing the debt of Proposition 14 could increase pressure for higher taxes or layoffs of public employees.
More Information
writejohnseiler@gmail.com
Proposition 15
Changes Tax Assessment of Commercial and Industrial Property. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Split roll taxes commercial and industrial properties based on current market value instead of purchase price.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: Oppose
Reasons for Position
Proposition 15 is a $12.5 billion a year property tax increase—the largest in state history. The measure is riddled with flaws that will hurt all Californians, increasing the cost of living and making everything more expensive, including food, gas, utilities, day care and health care. The measure repeals the taxpayer protections of Proposition 13 that have kept property taxes affordable. Proposition 15 proponents have admitted that homeowner protections are next. Proposition 15 will hurt the small businesses that employ more than half of all California employees. The measure lacks accountability and will not help local governments and schools recover from the COVID-19-induced economic crisis.
More Information
www.NOonProp15.org
Proposition 16
Allows Diversity as a Factor in Public Employment, Education, and Contracting Decisions. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Permits government decision-making policies to consider race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin to address diversity by repealing the constitutional provision prohibiting such policies.
Placed on Ballot by: ACA 5 (Weber; D-San Diego), Chapter 23, Statutes of 2020.
CalChamber Position: Support
Reasons for Position
The constitutional provision aimed at preventing discrimination based on race or gender has had an adverse impact on a generation of minority students, entrepreneurs and job seekers. By repealing that provision, Proposition 16 will enable cities, counties and the state to expand equal opportunity to all Californians. For example, public entities will be able to create targeted programs to retain, recruit and promote women and people of color for law enforcement positions. The state’s public university systems will be able to make sure the student body and faculty are a better reflection of the diversity of California’s population.
More Information
VoteYesOnProp16.org
Proposition 17
Restores Right to Vote after Completion of Prison Term. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Restores voting rights to convicted felons who have completed their prison term and are on parole.
Placed on Ballot by: ACA 6 (McCarty; D-Sacramento), Chapter 24, Statutes of 2020.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Restoring a citizen’s right to vote after completing a prison term aligns California with other states. A recent parole commission report found that citizens who complete their prison term and have their voting rights restored are less likely to commit future crimes.
More Information
Yeson17.vote
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 17 will grant violent criminals the right to vote before completing their sentence, including parole, and before paying their debt to society. It denies justice to crime victims.
More Information
www.eip-ca.com
Proposition 18
Permits Some 17-Year-Olds to Vote. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Amends the California Constitution to permit 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will turn 18 by the next general election.
Placed on Ballot by: ACA 4 (Mullin; D-South San Francisco), Chapter 30, Statutes of 2020.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Proposition 18 will allow first-time voters to participate in a full election cycle if they are 18 years old by the time of the general election. The measure is needed to boost youth civic engagement in elections and help create more lifelong participants in the most fundamental process of democracy.
More Information
CAprop18.com
Ballot Arguments Against
Both federal and state governments have set the age of legal responsibility at 18, reflecting evidence that logic and reasoning abilities vital to responsible voting are not fully developed in younger teens. Decisions on who will hold the power to make and enforce laws, whether to increase taxes and other complex issues should be made by voters who are legally adults, not minors.
More Information
www.eip-ca.com
Proposition 19
Changes Certain Property Tax Rules. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Allows homeowners who are over 55, disabled or wildfire/disaster victims to transfer primary residence’s tax base to replacement residence. Changes taxation of family property transfers. Establishes fire protection services fund.
Placed on Ballot by: ACA 11 (Mullin; D-South San Francisco), Chapter 31, Statutes of 2020.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Proposition 19 allows seniors, severely disabled homeowners and wildfire victims to carry their existing Proposition 13 property tax basis to new homes purchased anywhere in California. It closes tax loopholes used by out-of-state investors and protects Proposition 13 savings.
More Information
www.Yeson19.vote
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 19 is a billion-dollar tax increase on families. It takes away one of the best tools parents have to help their children—the right, enshrined in the California Constitution since 1986, to pass along their home and other property without any increase in property taxes.
More Information
www.HJTA.org
Proposition 20
Restricts Parole for Non-Violent Offenders. Authorizes Felony Sentences for Certain Offenses Currently Treated Only as Misdemeanors. Initiative Statute.
Limits access to parole program established for nonviolent offenders who have completed the full term of their primary offense by eliminating eligibility for certain offenses.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: Support
Reasons for Position
Proposition 20 discourages organized retail thefts by increasing penalties and saves retailers thousands of dollars in lost merchandise and loss prevention programs. It includes a felony for “serial theft.” A person caught stealing merchandise valued at more than $250 three separate times would face felony charges. The measure also expands the list of violent crimes for which early release isn’t an option. Requires the Board of Parole Hearings to consider an inmate’s entire criminal history when deciding parole, not just his/her most recently committed offense.
More Information
YesOn20.org
Proposition 21
Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property. Initiative Statute.
Allows 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. Exempts units owned by individuals who own no more than two single-family dwellings.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: Oppose
Reasons for Position
A substantial body of economic research and the Legislative Analyst’s Office conclude that rent control depresses new residential construction, decreases affordability of most units, encourages gentrification and creates spillover effects into surrounding neighborhoods. By discouraging new construction, rent control exacerbates the housing shortage that is the underlying cause of the state’s high housing costs. The ballot measure is unnecessary in the wake of legislation signed last year (AB 1482), which caps annual rent increases at 5% plus inflation for tenants, and requires that a landlord have a just cause, as defined in the law, to evict tenants that had occupied the rental for at least one year. AB 1482 included exemptions for housing built in the last 15 years and some single-family homes and duplexes. It was designed to sunset after 10 years.
More Information
noonprop21.vote
Proposition 22
Changes Employment Classification Rules for App-Based Transportation and Delivery Drivers. Initiative Statute.
Classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors instead of employees and provides independent contractor drivers other compensation, unless certain criteria are met.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: Support
Reasons for Position
Passage of Proposition 22 will ensure that thousands of workers continue to have access to app-based work that provides a flexible option to earn income. Supporting app-based drivers in the gig economy is critical to a diverse and robust economy. In light of the economic turmoil created by COVID-19, it is more important than ever to do everything possible to position the state for a robust comeback. The measure will provide important clarifications for determining who is an independent contractor and eliminate costly and ongoing litigation against companies in the gig economy. It also outlines wage and benefit guarantees, as well as other protections for drivers and passengers.
More Information
www.VoteYesProp22.com
Proposition 23
Establishes State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics. Requires On-Site Medical Professional. Initiative Statute.
Requires physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant on site during dialysis treatment. Prohibits clinics from reducing services without state approval or from refusing to treat patients based on payment source.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: Oppose
Reasons for Position
Because dialysis treatment is prescribed by a patient’s personal nephrologist and administered by specially trained nephrology nurses and patient care technicians, the physician on site requirement is unnecessary and would increase costs of care dramatically. The increased costs would be passed on to everyone in the form of higher insurance premiums and higher taxes for government-sponsored health care. It has been estimated that nearly half of the 600 dialysis clinics in the state would become financially unsustainable due to Proposition 23, resulting in closure of some clinics and reduced care options for sick patients.
More Information
NoProposition23.com
Proposition 24
Amends Consumer Privacy Laws. Initiative Statute.
Permits consumers to prevent businesses from sharing personal information, correct inaccurate personal information and limit businesses’ use of “sensitive personal information,” including precise geolocation, race, ethnicity and health information. Establishes California Privacy Protection Agency.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Consumers need stronger privacy protections. Proposition 24 will triple fines for violations involving children’s information, put limits on companies’ collection and use of personal information and set up an enforcement agency to defend consumer rights and hold companies accountable. The initiative will make it harder to weaken privacy in California in future.
More Information
www.caprivacy.org
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 24 reduces privacy rights in California by weakening privacy protections in current law. The measure allows “pay for privacy” schemes, makes workers wait years to learn what confidential information employers collect about them and makes it harder to stop tech giants from selling personal information.
More Information
mail@RealPrivacyNoOn24.org
Proposition 25
Referendum on Law that Replaced Money Bail with System Based on Public Safety and Flight Risk.
A “yes” vote approves and a “no” vote rejects a law replacing money bail with a system based on public safety and flight risk.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Yes on 25 replaces money bail with a fairer, safer and less costly process. Under current law, a person who can afford to pay a bail bond company goes free until trial. Someone who can’t afford to pay bail, even if innocent, stays in jail. The current system discriminates against poor and minority Californians.
More Information
yesoncaprop25.com
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 25 replaces every Californian’s option to post bail and imposes a computer-based profiling system run by a government bureaucracy that will create more biased outcomes against people of color and those from economically disadvantaged areas. Communities will be less safe and the system will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
More Information
StopProp25.com
CalChamber Positions on November 2020 Ballot Measures
Proposition 14
Stem Cell Research Bonds
No Position
Proposition 15
Split Roll Property Tax
Oppose
Proposition 16
Diversity in Public Employment, Education, Contracting
Support
Proposition 17
Right to Vote after Completing Prison Term
No Position
Proposition 18
Voting for 17-Year Olds
No Position
Proposition 19
Property Tax Rules for Seniors, Disabled and Wildfire Victims
No Position
Proposition 20
Restricts Parole for Non-Violent Offenders
Support
Proposition 21
Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property
Oppose
Proposition 22
Employment Classification for App-Based Drivers
Support
Proposition 23
State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics
Oppose
Proposition 24
Amends Consumer Privacy Laws
No Position
Proposition 25
Referendum on Replacing Money Bail System
No Position
