The statewide propositions vary widely in content, from improving outdated classrooms to requiring actors in the porn industry to wear condoms. Fifteen measures found their way to the ballot through signature petitions, and the Legislature initiated the other two. As of Oct. 16, 2016, support and opposition campaigns had amassed over $434 million, according to Ballotpedia, an online encyclopedia of American politics.
The two county measures are seeking improvement— one for neighborhood recreational facilities and another for infrastructure.
Those voting in Long Beach will face a special education measure and two on marijuana regulation.
Measure 51
This measure authorizes $9 billion in general obligation bonds for new construction and modernization of: K—12 public school facilities; charter schools and vocational education facilities; and California community college facilities.
 A “yes” vote on this measure means the State could sell $9 billion in general obligation bonds for education facilities ($7 billion for K—12 public school facilities and $2 billion for community college facilities).
 A “no” vote means the State would not have the authority to sell new general obligation bonds for K—12 public school and community college facilities.
Measure 52
This proposition extends indefinitely an existing statute that imposes fees on hospitals to fund Medi-Cal health care services, care for uninsured patients and children’s health coverage. If this measure is approved, an existing charge imposed on most private hospitals that is scheduled to end on Jan. 1, 2018 under current law would be extended permanently. It would be harder for the Legislature to make changes to it. Revenue raised would be used to create state savings, increase payments for hospital services to low-income Californians, and provide grants to public hospitals.
 A “yes” vote supports requiring voter approval to change the dedicated use of certain fees from hospitals used to draw matching federal money and fund Medi-Cal services. The initiative was also designed to require a two-thirds majority vote of the California Legislature to end the hospital fee program.
 A “no” vote on the measure means the existing charge would end on Jan. 1, 2018 unless additional action by the Legislature extends it.
Measure 53
Measure 53 requires statewide voter approval before any revenue bonds can be issued or sold by the State for certain projects if the bond amount exceeds $2 billion. State and local fiscal effects are unknown and would depend on which projects are affected by the measure and what actions government agencies and voters take in response to the measure’s voting requirement, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Supporters of the measure refer to it as the “No Blank Checks Initiative.”
 A “yes” vote supports requiring voter approval before the State could issue more than $2 billion in public infrastructure bonds that would require an increase in taxes or fees for repayment.
 A “no” vote opposes the measure, requiring voter approval before the State could issue more than $2 billion in public infrastructure bonds that would require an increase in taxes or fees for repayment.
Measure 54
This measure prohibits the Legislature from passing any bill unless published on the Internet for 72 hours before the vote. It also requires the Legislature to record its proceedings and post them on the Internet. The anticipated fiscal impact is a one-time cost of $1 million to $2 million and ongoing costs of about $1 million annually to record legislative meetings and make videos of those meetings available on the Internet.
 A “yes” vote supports prohibiting the Legislature from passing any bill until it has been in print and published on the Internet for 72 hours prior to the vote.
 A “no” vote opposes the measure, prohibiting the Legislature from passing any bill until it has been in print and published on the Internet for 72 hours prior to the vote
Measure 55
The California Extension of the Proposition 30 Income Tax Increase Initiative is on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment. About 89 percent of revenue from the tax increase would go towards K-12 schools and 11 percent to state community colleges. An additional $2 billion would be allocated in certain years to Medi-Cal and other health programs.
 A “yes” vote supports extending the personal income tax increases on incomes over $250,000 approved in 2012 for 12 years in order to fund education and healthcare.
 A “no” vote opposes extending the personal income tax increases on incomes over $250,000 approved in 2012 for 12 years, allowing the tax increase to expire in 2019.
Measure 56
This proposition increases cigarette tax by $2 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine. The expected fiscal impact is an additional net state revenue of $1 billion to $1.4 billion in 2017-18, with potentially lower revenues in future years. Revenues would be used primarily to augment spending on health care for low-income Californians.
 A “yes” vote on this measure means: State excise tax on cigarettes would increase by $2 per pack— from 87 cents to $2.87. State excise tax on other tobacco products would increase by a similar amount. State excise tax also would be applied to electronic cigarettes. Revenue from these higher taxes would be used for many purposes, but primarily to augment spending on health care for low—income Californians.
 A “no” vote on this measure means no changes would be made to existing state taxes on cigarettes, other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.
Measure 57
Measure 57 allows parole consideration for nonviolent felons. It authorizes sentence credits for rehabilitation, good behavior and education. It provides that juvenile court judges shall decide whether juvenile swill be prosecuted as adults. The anticipated fiscal impact is a net state savings likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on implementation, as well as net county costs of likely a few million dollars annually.
 A “yes” vote on this measure means certain state prison inmates convicted of nonviolent felony offenses would be considered for release earlier than otherwise. The state prison system could award additional sentencing credits to inmates for good behavior and approved rehabilitative or educational achievements. Youths must have a hearing in juvenile court before they could be transferred to adult court.
 A “no” vote on this measure means there would be no change to the inmate release process. The state’s prison system could not award additional sentencing credits to inmates. Certain youths could continue to be tried in adult court without a hearing in juvenile court.
Measure 58
This measure preserves a requirement that public schools ensure students obtain English-language proficiency. It requires school districts to solicit parent/community input in developing language-acquisition programs. It requires instruction to ensure English acquisition as rapidly and effectively as possible, and it authorizes school districts to establish dual-language immersion programs for both native and non-native English speakers. No notable fiscal effect on school districts or the state government has been noted by the Secretary of State’s office.
 A “yes” vote means public schools could more easily choose how to teach English learners, whether in English-only, bilingual or other types of programs.
 A “no” vote means public schools would still be required to teach most English learners in English-only programs.
Measure 59
Measure 59 asks whether California’s elected officials should use their authority to propose and ratify an amendment to the federal Constitution overturning the United States Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Citizens United ruled that laws placing certain limits on political spending by corporations and unions are unconstitutional. Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal effect on state or local governments.
Shall California’s elected officials use all of their constitutional authority, including, but not limited to, proposing and ratifying one or more amendments to the United States Constitution, to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) 558 U.S. 310, and other applicable judicial precedents, to allow the full regulation or limitation of campaign contributions and spending, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of wealth, may express their views to one another, and to make clear that corporations should not have the same constitutional rights as human beings?
 A “yes” vote on the measure means voters would be asking their elected officials to use their constitutional authority to seek increased regulation of campaign spending and contributions. As an advisory measure, Proposition 59 does not require any particular action by the Congress or California Legislature.
 A “no” vote on this measure means voters would not be asking their elected officials to seek certain changes in the regulation of campaign spending and contributions.
Measure 60
Measure 60 requires adult-film performers to use condoms during filming of sexual intercourse. It requires producers to pay for performer vaccinations, testing and medical examinations. It also requires producers to post condom requirement at film sites. The fiscal impact is a likely reduction of state and local tax revenues of several million dollars annually and an increased state spending that could exceed $1 million annually on regulation, partially offset by new fees.
 A “yes” vote on this measure means there would be additional workplace health and safety requirements placed on adult-film productions in California and additional ways to enforce those requirements.
 A “no” vote on this measure means adult-film productions in California would continue to be subject to current state and local workplace health and safety requirements, including the rules now interpreted to require condom use in adult film productions.
Measure 61
Measure 61 prohibits the State from buying any prescription drug from a drug manufacturer at price over lowest price paid for the drug by United States Department of Veterans Affairs. It exempts managed care programs funded through Medi-Cal. There is a potential for a State savings of an unknown amount depending on how the measure’s implementation challenges are addressed and the responses of drug manufacturers regarding the provision and pricing of their drugs.
 A “yes” vote on this measure means State agencies would generally be prohibited from paying more for any prescription drug than the lowest price paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the same drug.
 A “no” vote means State agencies would continue to be able to negotiate the prices of, and pay for, prescription drugs without reference to the prices paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Measure 62
This measure repeals the death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole. It applies retroactively to existing death sentences. It increases the portion of life inmates’ wages that may be applied to victim restitution. The anticipated fiscal impact is a net ongoing reduction in state and county criminal justice costs of around $150 million annually within a few years, although the impact could vary by tens of millions of dollars depending on various factors.
 A “yes” vote means no offenders could be sentenced to death by the State for first-degree murder. The most serious penalty available would be a prison term of life without the possibility of parole. Offenders who are currently under a sentence of death would be resentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
 A “no” vote means certain offenders convicted for first-degree murder could continue to be sentenced to death. There would be no change for offenders currently under a sentence of death.
Measure 63
Measure 63 requires background check and Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition. It prohibits possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines and establishes procedures for enforcing laws prohibiting firearm possession by specified persons. It requires the Department of Justice’s participation in federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The anticipated fiscal impact is increased state and local court and law-enforcement costs, potentially in the tens of millions of dollars annually, related to a new court process for removing firearms from prohibited persons after they are convicted.
 A “yes” vote means a new court process would be created for the removal of firearms from individuals upon conviction of certain crimes. New requirements related to the selling or purchasing of ammunition would be implemented.
 A “no” vote means no new firearm- or ammunition—related requirements would be implemented.
Measure 64
This measure legalizes marijuana under state law, for use by adults 21 or older. It imposes state taxes on sales and cultivation and provides for industry licensing and establishes standards for marijuana products. It also allows local regulation and taxation. The expected fiscal impact is additional tax revenues ranging from high hundreds of millions of dollars to over $1 billion annually, mostly dedicated to specific purposes, as well as reduced criminal justice costs of tens of millions of dollars annually.
 A “yes” vote means adults 21 years of age or older could legally grow, possess and use marijuana for nonmedical purposes, with certain restrictions. The State would regulate non-medical marijuana businesses and tax the growing and selling of medical and non-medical marijuana. Most of the revenue from such taxes would support youth programs, environmental protection and law enforcement.
 A “no” vote means growing, possessing or using marijuana for non-medical purposes would remain illegal. It would still be legal to grow, possess or use marijuana for medical purposes.
Measure 65
This proposition redirects money collected by grocery and certain other retail stores through the mandated sale of carryout bags. It requires stores to deposit bag sale proceeds into a special fund to support specified environmental projects. The fiscal impact is a potential state revenue of several tens of millions of dollars annually under certain circumstances, with the monies used to support certain environmental programs.
 A “yes” vote means that, if state law prohibits giving customers certain carryout bags for free and requires a charge for other types of carryout bags, the resulting revenue would be deposited in a new state fund to support certain environmental programs.
 A “no” vote means that, if charges on carryout bags are required by a state law, that law could direct the use of the resulting revenue toward any purpose.
Measure 66
This measure changes procedures governing state court challenges to death sentences. It designates the superior court for initial petitions and limits successive petitions. It requires appointed attorneys who take noncapital appeals to accept death-penalty appeals. It exempts prison officials from existing regulation process for developing execution methods. It is unknown what the ongoing impact would be on state court costs for processing legal challenges to death sentences, but there is a potential prison savings in the tens of millions of dollars annually.
 A “yes” vote means court procedures for legal challenges to death sentences would be subject to various changes, such as time limits on those challenges and revised rules to increase the number of available attorneys for those challenges. Condemned inmates could be housed at any state prison.
 A “no” vote means there would be no changes to the State’s current court procedures for legal challenges to death sentences. The State would still be limited to housing condemned inmates only at certain state prisons.
Measure 67
A “yes” vote approves, and a “no” vote rejects, a statute that prohibits grocery and other stores from providing customers single-use plastic or paper carryout bags but permits sale of recycled paper bags and reusable bags. Relatively small fiscal effects on state and local governments are anticipated, including a minor increase in state administrative costs and possible minor local government savings from reduced litter and waste management costs.
 A “yes” vote means most grocery stores, convenience stores, large pharmacies and liquor stores would be prohibited from providing single-use plastic carryout bags. Stores generally would be required to charge at least 10 cents for any other carryout bag provided to customers at checkout. Stores would keep the resulting revenue for specified purposes.
 A “no” vote means stores could continue to provide single-use plastic carryout bags and other bags free of charge unless a local law restricts the use of such bags.
County Measure A
Initiated by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks & Beaches Measure of 2016 would replace funding under Proposition A, which passed more than 20 years ago and is set to expire in 2019. The measure would add a parcel tax of one-and-a-half cent per square foot of developed property. An average homeowner with a 1,500-square-foot home would pay approximately $22.50 a year. The expected fiscal impact is that the measure would raise $94 million annually.
 A “yes” vote means the new funds would go directly to cities and local communities to protect, enhance and maintain neighborhood parks, open space, trails, beaches, natural habitat and rivers, creeks and streams.
 A “no” vote means these new funds would not be raised and the funds from Prop A will terminate in 2019.
County Measure M
The Metro Board of Directors approved placing a sales-tax ballot measure, titled the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan, on the ballot. Voters will be asked to improve freeway traffic flow/safety, repair potholes/sidewalks, repave local streets, earthquake-retrofit bridges, synchronize signals, keep senior/disabled/student fares affordable, expand rail/subway/bus systems, improve job/school/airport connections and create jobs.
 A “yes” vote would authorize a Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan through a ½ ¢ sales tax and continue the existing ½ ¢ traffic relief tax until voters decide to end it, with independent audits/oversight and funds controlled locally.
 A “no” vote will continue the existing Measure R tax after it’s set to expire in 2039 until voters decide to change it.
City Measure E
Measure E is the Long Beach Unified School District Repair and Safety Measure to improve outdated classrooms and neighborhood schools by upgrading technology, labs, career education classrooms, electrical systems and wiring, according to the district’s website. If approved, the measure also would improve handicapped accessibility and earthquake safety, upgrade bathrooms, fire alarms, fire sprinklers and security cameras, remove lead paint and asbestos and fund installation of air conditioning to improve student performance. Top priorities also include upgrading indoor and outdoor athletic and physical education facilities, the LBUSD website states.
Measure E requires independent financial audits and the establishment of a citizens’ oversight committee as prescribed by state law. It does not include money for administrators’ salaries or pensions. All funds must be spent on behalf of local schools.
The LBUSD Board of Education voted to place Measure E on the ballot.
City marijuana measures
Long Beach voters will have several choices to make on the issue of marijuana alone, and they’ll need to weed through the verbiage of two competing measures, one of which could structure taxes for the substance on the high side, but with good reason, officials say.
If the mayor and city council have their druthers, voters will approve Measure MA, which would set a gross-receipts tax for sales of medical and recreational cannabis, as well as establishing a tax on cultivation, processing, testing and distribution of pot in Long Beach.
However, that measure was designed to compete with another— Measure MM— which will be included on the ballot after garnering enough petition signatures— more than 35,000— from registered voters. MM would tax, regulate and allow medical-marijuana businesses to operate in the city.
Local poll-goers will see yet another cannabis-related measure on their ballots— Proposition 64, which will legalize recreational marijuana for use by adults 21 years or older statewide if approved.
For the State’s complete guide on the measures, visit http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2016/general/en/pdf/complete-vig.pdf.
Californians have until Tuesday, Nov. 1 to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Returned ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open on Election Day from 7am to 8pm. Those interested may find their polling place by calling (800) 345-VOTE (8683) or visiting sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place.
