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AP18:016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2018
CONTACT:
SOS Press Office
(916) 653-6575

Proposed Initiative Enters Circulation

Increases Funding For Hospitals, Clinics, And Primary Care Providers Serving Low-Income Patients By Increasing Tax On Personal Income Over $1 Million. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

SACRAMENTO – Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced the proponents of a new initiative were cleared to begin collecting petition signatures today.

The Attorney General prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on initiative petitions. When the official language is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent and to the Secretary of State, and the initiative may be circulated for signatures. The Secretary of State then provides calendar deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials. The Attorney General’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows:

INCREASES FUNDING FOR HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS SERVING LOW-INCOME PATIENTS BY INCREASING TAX ON PERSONAL INCOME OVER $1 MILLION. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Increases funding for: (1) eligible hospitals, clinics, and primary healthcare providers that serve low-income patients and medically underserved communities; and (2) educating and training certain healthcare workers. Provides dedicated revenue for this funding and program administration by taxing personal income over $1 million an additional 1%. Requires annual audit to verify funds are properly spent. Requires Attorney General or district attorneys to investigate misuse of funds. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Additional state revenues typically between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion annually, depending on the economy and asset markets. This funding is allocated to safety net hospitals (70 percent), community health clinics (25 percent), and health care workforce development and training projects (5 percent) eligible for funding under the initiative. (17-0047.)

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1843 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 17-0047.

The proponents of the measure, Michael Borges and Benjamen Tracey, must collect the signatures of 585,407 registered voters (eight percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the November 2014 general election) in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponents have 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than July 17, 2018. The proponents can be reached c/o Catha Worthman or Darin Ranahan at (510) 269-7998, catha@feinbergjackson.com, darin@feinbergjackson.com.

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