California Proposition 141, Prohibit Carcinogens Released Into Water Systems Initiative (1990)

California Proposition 141
Election date November 6, 1990
Topic Water
Status d Defeated
Type State statute	Origin Citizens

California Proposition 141 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred state statute in California on November 6, 1990. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported extending to public agencies the prohibition on discharging or releasing into water chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity that was enacted under Proposition 65 (1986) on businesses.

A "no" vote opposed extending to public agencies the prohibition on discharging or releasing into water chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity that was enacted under Proposition 65 (1986) on businesses.

Election results

California Proposition 141
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		3,332,755	48.47%
No		3,542,894	51.53%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 141 was as follows:

“

Toxic Chemical Discharge. Public Agencies. Legislative Statute.

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) prohibits businesses from discharging or releasing into water chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, and requires warnings to persons exposed to such chemicals. This measure extends to public agencies, other than publicly owned water systems, the discharge and release prohibition and warning requirement. Exempts specified public agencies from discharge and release prohibition during public emergency, to protect public health, specified storm water or runoff situations, other circumstances. Exempts specified public agencies from clear and reasonable warning requirements during emergency.

”

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:

“

Beginning in 1991, unknown state and local government costs, which could exceed $1 million in first year, for posting signs and providing notices warning employees and public about exposures to toxic chemicals. Thereafter, ongoing state and local government costs, which may be less than the first year. Beginning in 1992, unknown costs could result from preventing discharges into drinking water. Amount of costs would depend upon extent existing waste discharge controls used at state and local governmental facilities are not sufficient to comply with discharge prohibitions of Proposition 65, and could be tens of millions of dollars.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in California

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
• Water on the ballot
• Business regulations 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

• California Voter Guide (November 1990)