Article 4. Measures Proposed By The Legislature of California Elections Code >> Division 9. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 4.

Every constitutional amendment, bond measure, or other legislative measure submitted to the people by the Legislature shall appear on the ballot of the first statewide election occurring at least 131 days after the adoption of the proposal by the Legislature.

Whenever the Legislature submits any measure to the voters of the state, the author of the measure and no more than two persons appointed by the author may draft an argument for the adoption of the measure, or the author of the measure may appoint no more than three persons to draft the argument. In no case shall more than three persons write the argument. This argument shall not exceed 500 words in length. If the author of the measure desires separate arguments to be written in its favor by each person appointed, separate arguments may be written, but the combined length of the arguments shall not exceed 500 words.

If a measure submitted to the voters by the Legislature was not adopted unanimously, one Member of the Senate who voted against it shall be appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate and one Member of the Assembly who voted against it shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, at the same time as appointments to draft an argument in its favor are made, to write an argument against the measure. An argument shall not exceed 500 words. If those members appointed to write an argument against the measure choose, each may write a separate argument opposing it, but the combined length of the two arguments shall not exceed 500 words.

Arguments prepared by legislators and their appointees shall be submitted to the Secretary of State no later than a date to be designated by the Secretary of State. The arguments may not be amended or changed after submission.

If an argument for or an argument against a measure submitted to the voters by the Legislature has not been filed by a Member of the Legislature, any voter may request the Secretary of State's permission to prepare and file an argument for either side, on which no argument has been prepared by a Member of the Legislature. The Secretary of State shall grant permission unless two or more voters request permission to submit arguments on the same side of a measure, in which event the Secretary of State shall designate one of the voters to write the argument. Any argument prepared pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the Secretary of State by a date sufficient to meet ballot printing deadlines.