California "Controlled Substance Prescriptions Tax" (2012)

Not on Ballot
This measure did not or will not appear on a ballot

A California "Controlled Substance Prescriptions Tax" (#11-0045) had been approved for circulation in California as an initiated state statute. To earn a spot on the state's 2012 ballot, sponsors of the initiative would have had to collect 504,760 signatures by April 19, 2012.

However, sponsors of the initiative did not file signatures by their signature-filing deadline.

If the measure had been enacted, it would have:

• Imposed a tax of $.0025 per pill for three years, starting on January 1, 2013.
• The tax would have been paid by drug manufacturers and importers that make initial sale of a Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance in California.
• Given the revenue from the tax to the California Department of Justice's program "to monitor prescription and dispensation of controlled substances, administration costs, outreach, education, and investigation of abuses."
• Required that any person who manufactures Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances in California, or imports them into California, must register with the California Department of Justice for purposes of tax compliance.

Text of measure

See also: Ballot titles, summaries and fiscal statements for California's 2012 ballot propositions

Ballot title:

Tax on Controlled Substances. Initiative Statute.

Official summary:

"For three years beginning January 1, 2013, imposes a tax of $.0025 per pill upon drug manufacturers and importers that make initial sale of a Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance in California. Provides revenue to fund California Department of Justice's program to monitor prescription and dispensation of controlled substances, administration costs, outreach, education, and investigation of abuses. Requires any person that manufactures Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances in California, or imports them into California, to register with the California Department of Justice for purposes of tax compliance."

Summary of estimated fiscal impact:

(This is a summary of the initiative's estimated "fiscal impact on state and local government" prepared by the California Legislative Analyst's Office and the Director of Finance.)

"Increased state revenues of approximately $7 million annually from a new tax on prescription drugs. The revenues would be used to increase spending on a prescription drug database maintained by DOJ."

Path to the ballot

See also: California signature requirements

• Robert Pack submitted a letter requesting a ballot title on September 30, 2011.
• The ballot title and ballot summary were issued by the Attorney General of California's office on November 21, 2011.
• 504,760 valid signatures were required for qualification purposes.
• The 150-day circulation deadline for #11-0045 was April 19, 2012.
• No signatures were filed by the deadline.

External links

Suggest a link

• Letter requesting a ballot title for Initiative 11-0045

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