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First Measure Qualifies for California's November 2016 Ballot

SACRAMENTO - Secretary of State Debra Bowen has certified the first measure for the November 8, 2016, General Election ballot. The initiative relates to state fees on hospitals and federal Medi-Cal matching funds.

In order to qualify for the ballot, the hospital fees initiative needed 807,615 valid petition signatures, which is equal to eight percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2010 General Election. The initiative exceeded that threshold by qualifying through a full check of signatures.

The Attorney General's official title and summary of the initiative is as follows:

STATE FEES ON HOSPITALS. FEDERAL MEDI-CAL MATCHING FUNDS. INITIATIVE STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Increases required vote to two-thirds for the Legislature to amend a certain existing law that imposes fees on hospitals (for purpose of obtaining federal Medi-Cal matching funds) and that directs those fees and federal matching funds to hospital-provided Medi-Cal health care services, to uncompensated care provided by hospitals to uninsured patients, and to children’s health coverage. Eliminates law’s ending date. Declares that law’s fee proceeds shall not be considered revenues for purposes of applying state spending limit or determining required education funding. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: State savings from increased revenues that offset state costs for children’s health coverage of around $500 million beginning in 2016-17 (half-year savings) to over $1 billion annually by 2019-20, likely growing between 5 percent to 10 percent annually thereafter. Increased revenues to support state and local public hospitals of around $90 million beginning in 2016-17 (half-year) to $250 million annually by 2019-20, likely growing between 5 percent to 10 percent annually thereafter. (13-0022.)

The proponent of this initiative is Thomas W. Hiltachk. The proponent can be reached at (916) 442-7757.

For more information about how an initiative qualifies for the ballot in California, go to www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/how-to-qualify-an-initiative.htm.

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