California Proposition 117, Creation of the Habitat Conservation Fund Initiative (June 1990)

California Proposition 117
Election date June 5, 1990
Topic Treatment of animals and Environment
Status a Approved
Type State statute	Origin Citizens

California Proposition 117 was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in California on June 5, 1990. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported creating the Habitat Conservation Fund and appropriating $30 million annually to the fund until 2020.

A "no" vote opposed creating the Habitat Conservation Fund and appropriating $30 million annually to the fund until 2020.

Election results

California Proposition 117
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		2,572,470	52.42%
No		2,334,899	47.58%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Measure design

Proposition 117 created a Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) and guaranteed it funding of $30 million a year for 30 years (through 2020). The funding was to be used to "acquire, enhance, or restore" specified types of lands for wildlife or open space.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 117 was as follows:

“

Wildlife Protection. Initiative Statute.

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

Establishes Habitat Conservation Fund. Transfers $30 million to Fund annually from existing environmental funds and General Fund. Monies from Fund appropriated to Wildlife Conservation Board; Coastal, Tahoe, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancies; state and local parks programs. Funds to be used principally for acquisition of deer and mountain lion habitat; rare and endangered species habitat. Remaining funding for wetlands; riparian and aquatic habitat; open space; other environmental purposes. Prohibits taking of mountain lions unless for protection of life, livestock or other property. Permit for taking required, but prohibits use of poison, leg-hold or metal-jawed traps and snares.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Fiscal impact

The fiscal estimate provided by the California Legislative Analyst's Office said:

“

The $30 million in annual HCF funding would come from the following sources: 10 percent of the funds in the Proposition 99 'unallocated account.' The remainder from the state's General Fund, less any amounts the Legislature may transfer from other existing environmental funds. We estimate that for 1990-91 these amounts would be $18 million from the unallocated account and $12 million from the General Fund, unless other transfers are made. In subsequent years, the share of funds from the General Fund (or other environmental funds) may be higher because there will be less revenues in the unallocated account as the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products decline. Ongoing costs to manage these properties would not come from the HCF, but would be supported by other state funds. These costs could exceed $1 million annually.

”

Path to the ballot

In California, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 5 percent of the votes cast at the preceding gubernatorial election. For initiated statutes filed in 1990, at least 372,178 valid signatures were required.

See also

1990 Measures

• 1990 Measures
• Environment on the ballot
• Animal treatment laws on the ballot
• 1990 legislative sessions

California

• California ballot measures
• California ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Official State Voter Guide
• Text of Proposition 117