Cong. Candidate/State Sen. Oropeza Joins As Co-Author On Proposed Feb. 08 "Vote U.S. Out of Iraq" Advisory Ballot Measure

BILL NUMBER: SB 924	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 15, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 9, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Perata
    (   Principal   coauthors:  
Senators   Migden   and Romero   ) 
    (   Coauthors:   Senators  
Corbett,   Kuehl,   Oropeza,  
Ridley-Thomas,   Scott,   and Wiggins   )

    (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member  
Dymally  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2007

   An act relating to Iraq, and calling an election, to take effect
immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 924, as amended, Perata. Iraq  war.   war:
advisory election. 
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to call an election
for the purpose of placing before the voters of the state an
advisory question asking whether the President should end the United
States occupation of Iraq, and whether the President and the Congress
should provide the necessary diplomatic and nonmilitary assistance
to promote peace and stability in Iraq and the Middle East. The bill
would require the Secretary of State to communicate the results of
this election to the President and to consolidate this election with
the statewide presidential primary election of February 5, 2008. By
increasing the duties of local elections officials, the addition of
an election to place an advisory question on the ballot would impose
a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an act calling for an election.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
   
  SECTION 1.   The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Whereas, The United States is now into the fifth year of a war
in Iraq with no end in sight; and
   (b) Whereas, On May 1, 2003, President Bush declared the "end of
major combat operations" in Iraq, yet tragic military and civilian
casualties and injuries in Iraq continue, with the fourth year of
this conflict resulting in the greatest number of casualties and
injuries; and
   (c) Whereas, Despite the deaths of more than 3,300 American men
and women in our Armed Forces, and the injury of more than 24,000
Americans, President George W. Bush has refused to begin a safe and
orderly withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq; and
   (d) Whereas, Civilian casualties in Iraq have been significant,
with more than 62,000 civilian Iraqi men, women, and children killed,
and many more wounded or displaced from their homes; and
   (e) Whereas, Hostilities in Iraq have continued for more than four
years, requiring the expenditure of more than $350,000,000,000, an
amount that has forced the federal government to devote fewer
resources to properly funding schools, health systems, homeland
security, and other vital domestic needs; and
   (f) Whereas, Three hundred forty-six Californians have been among
the service members killed in the Iraq conflict, more than any other
state, and thousands more Californians, including more than 800
members of California's National Guard, remain deployed in Iraq and
at grave risk; and
   (g) Whereas, The widely respected and bipartisan Iraq Study Group
recommended that the United States withdraw its Armed Forces from
Iraq by early 2008; and
   (h) Whereas, In spite of a growing consensus among experienced and
respected military officials, diplomats, scholars, and the American
public that the time has come to begin the safe and orderly
withdrawal of United States Armed Forces, the Bush Administration has
chosen instead to jeopardize the safety of additional personnel with
an ill-conceived "surge", an increase in the number of troops
deployed to Iraq; and
   (i) Whereas, Despite the best efforts and tremendous sacrifices
made by service members and their families, the continued presence of
United States Armed Forces will not lead to peace and stability in
Iraq or the Middle East.
   (j) Therefore, in support of the men and women serving in the
United States Armed Forces in Iraq, this act provides the people of
California the opportunity to voice their heart felt concerns and to
be heard at the ballot on this critical issue.
   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.   (a) The Secretary
of State shall call an election for the purpose of placing before
the voters of this state the following advisory question:
   Shall President George W. Bush, in support of the men and women
serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, end the United
States occupation of Iraq and immediately begin the safe and orderly
withdrawal of all United States forces; and, further, shall President
George W. Bush and the Congress provide the necessary diplomatic and
nonmilitary assistance to promote peace and stability in Iraq and
the Middle East?
   (b) Upon certification of the election, the Secretary of State
shall communicate to President George W. Bush the results of the
election asking the question set forth in subdivision (a).
   (c) The provisions of the Elections Code that apply to the
preparation of ballot measures and ballot materials at a statewide
election shall apply to the measure submitted pursuant to this
section.
   (d) Notwithstanding Section 9040 of the Elections Code, the
Secretary of State shall consolidate the election provided for in
subdivision (a) with the statewide presidential primary election to
be held on February 5, 2008.
   SEC. 2.   SEC. 3.   If the Commission on
State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by
the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for
those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section
17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
   SEC. 3.   SEC. 4.   This act calls an
election within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and
shall go into immediate effect.