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California Payment of State Income Tax by Undocumented Workers (2012)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
A California Payment of State Income Tax by Undocumented Workers Initiative (#11-0089) was approved for circulation in California as a contender for the November 6, 2012 ballot.
Its sponsors, however, did not submit any signatures to election officials by the deadline.
If the initiative had qualified for the ballot and been approved by the state's voters, it would have:
- Created a five-year program to encourage undocumented workers to pay state income taxes.
- Directed the Governor of California to request that federal authorities not spend resources to apprehend, detain, or deport participants, or to prosecute their employers.
- Defined eligible participants as those undocumented taxpayers who have filed California tax returns for the most recent year, have been California residents since January 1, 2008, consent to background checks, speak or are learning English, and are not felons, suspected terrorists, public charges, or public employees.
- Maintained the confidentiality of information gathered from participants.
- Complying with the terms of the initiative, if it is passed, would not have provided citizenship or amnesty.
Felipe Fuentes and John Cruz, the initiative's sponsors, referred to it as the "California Opportunity and Prosperity Act."
Text of measure
Ballot title:
Official summary:
- "Creates a five-year program to encourage undocumented workers to pay state income taxes. Directs Governor to request that federal authorities not spend resources to apprehend, detain, or deport participants, or to prosecute their employers. Defines eligible participants as those undocumented taxpayers who have filed California tax returns for the most recent year, have been California residents since January 1, 2008, consent to background checks, speak or are learning English, and are not felons, suspected terrorists, public charges, or public employees. Maintains confidentiality of information gathered from participants. Does not provide citizenship or amnesty."
Fiscal impact statement:
Note: The fiscal impact statement for a California ballot initiative authorized for circulation is jointly prepared by the state's legislative analyst and its director of finance.
- "Unknown net change in annual state tax revenues through 2017-18, but probably without a significant impact on overall General Fund revenues. Annual state administrative costs through 2017-18 in the hundreds of thousands or low millions of dollars, supported by required participant fees."
Path to the ballot
- See also: California signature requirements
- Felipe Fuentes and John Cruz submitted a letter requesting a ballot title on December 2, 2011.
- The ballot title and ballot summary were issued by California's attorney general's office on February 2, 2012.
- 504,760 valid signatures were required for qualification purposes.
- The 150-day circulation deadline for #11-0089 was July 2, 2012.
- No signatures were filed by the filing deadline.
