BILL NUMBER: SB 924 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 30, 2007
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2007
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 4, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 15, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 9, 2007
INTRODUCED BY Senator Perata
(Principal coauthors: Senators Migden and Romero)
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Leno)
(Coauthors: Senators Corbett, Kuehl, Oropeza, Ridley-Thomas,
Scott, Steinberg, and Wiggins)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Brownley, DeSaulnier, Dymally, Eng,
Hancock, Karnette, Levine, Nunez, and Saldana)
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
An act relating to Iraq, and calling an election, to take effect
immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 924, Perata. Iraq war: advisory election.
(1) This bill would require, notwithstanding specified provisions
of law, that an election be called 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.
(2) 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.
(3) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an act calling for an election.
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 3,700 American men
and women in our Armed Forces, and the injury of more than 27,000
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 70,000 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, More than 400 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 heartfelt concerns and to
be heard at the ballot on this critical issue.
SEC. 2. (a) Notwithstanding Section 9040 or 12000 of the Elections
Code or any other provision of law, an election is hereby called 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 achieve the immediate, complete, safe,
and orderly withdrawal of 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. 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. 4. This act calls an election within the meaning of Article
IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect.