California 1996 ballot propositions

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27 statewide ballot propositions were on the 1996 ballot in California, divided between the March 26 statewide primary ballot and the November 5 ballot.

• Altogether, 14 of the propositions were approved.
• 13 were defeated.

• 12 propositions were on the March ballot.
• 15 propositions were on the November ballot.

• 10 of the 27 ballot propositions were referred to the ballot by the California State Legislature. 8 of the 10 were approved.
• The remaining 17 were ballot initiatives, petitioned onto the ballot.

On the ballot

March 26

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LBM	Proposition 192	Bonds	Issue $2 billion in bonds to provide funds for a seismic retrofit program	a
LRCA	Proposition 193	Tax reform	Remove requirement for a new appraisal of real property upon purchase or transfer between grandparents and their grandchild	a
LRSS	Proposition 194	Prisons and Labor	Prisoner's employment in prison does not entitle prisoner to unemployment benefits upon release	a
LRSS	Proposition 195	Policing	Murder during a carjacking, and murder of jurors, added to special circumstances that permit death penalty	a
LRSS	Proposition 196	Policing	Adds drive-by shooting murders to the list of crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment	a
LRSS	Proposition 197	Hunting	Repeals the special protection status for mountain lions	d
CISS	Proposition 198	Elections	Adopts an open blanket primary system	a
CISS	Proposition 199	Rent control	Prohibits rent control on mobile homes	d
CISS	Proposition 200	Regulation	Requires no-fault car insurance	d
CISS	Proposition 201	Judiciary	Requires losing party to pay winning party's legal fees in shareholder actions against corporations	d
CISS	Proposition 202	Judiciary	Limits contingency fees which plaintiffs' attorneys may collect	d
LBM	Proposition 203	Bonds	Issues $3 billion in bonds for school facility improvements	a

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LBM	Proposition 204	Bonds	Issues $995 million for water-related infrastructure and conservation projects	a
LBM	Proposition 205	Bonds	Authorizes $700 million bonds for county juvenile and adult correctional facilities	d
LBM	Proposition 206	Bonds	Authorizes $400 million in bonds for farm aid and home aid for veterans	a
CISS	Proposition 207	Judiciary	Prohibits restrictions on negotiating attorneys' fees; prohibits lawsuits that are determined to be frivolous (as defined); prohibits attorneys from charging excessive fees (as defined)	d
CISS	Proposition 208	Elections	Revises California campaign finance laws to limit campaign contributions, prohibit contributions from lobbyists, establish voluntary campaign expenditure limits; create penalties for campaign finance law violations	a
CICA	Proposition 209	Affirmative action	Adds language to the California Constitution that says that the state cannot discriminate against or grant preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting	a
CISS	Proposition 210	Minimum wage	Increases the state minimum wage to $5.00 per hour on March 1, 1997, and to $5.75 per hour on March 1, 1998	a
CISS	Proposition 211	Judiciary	Changes laws concerning retirement savings securities fraud; prohibits limits on attorney-client arrangements	d
CISS	Proposition 212	Elections	Creates limits on the amount of campaign contributions that an individual or group can make to a candidate for state and local elective office; prohibits lobbyists from making contributions; establishes voluntary campaign spending limits; provides limitations on the periods during which campaigns can conduct fundraising; creates penalties for campaign finance law violations	d
CISS	Proposition 213	Judiciary	Prohibits an uninsured driver or a driver subsequently convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of an accident from suing someone at fault for the accident for non-economic losses; prohibits a person convicted of a felony from suing to recover any losses suffered while committing the crime or fleeing from the crime scene if these losses resulted from another person's negligence	a
CISS	Proposition 214	Healthcare	Imposes new taxes on health care businesses for bed reductions, mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings; requires healthcare businesses to make tax returns publics; creates a nonprofit public corporation for consumer advocacy; prohibits healthcare businesses from denying recommended care without a physical examination	d
CISS	Proposition 215	Marijuana	Exempts patients and defined caregivers who possess or cultivate marijuana for medical treatment recommended by a physician from criminal laws which otherwise prohibit possession or cultivation of marijuana	a
CISS	Proposition 216	Healthcare	Prohibits healthcare businesses from denying recommended care without a physical examination; requires healthcare businesses to make tax returns and other financial information public, and makes other changes to healthcare business regulations	d
CISS	Proposition 217	Taxes	Reinstates an income tax increase for individuals earning between $115,000 to $230,000 per year, which ended in 1995, and allocates the revenue from the increase to schools and local governments	d
CICA	Proposition 218	Taxes	Requires local governments to refer ordinances to impose taxes or property-related assessments, fees, and charges to the ballot for voter consideration; requires that elections for general taxes be held at regulation elections; and requires a two-thirds supermajority vote of approval for special taxes	a

Getting measures on the ballot

Legislative referrals

The California State Legislature may refer constitutional amendments to the ballot with a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in each chamber.

The legislature can refer statutes and bond issues with a simple majority vote, but the governor's signature is also required.

In California, changes to voter-approved ballot initiatives need to be referred to voters for approval or rejection unless the changes further the initiative's purpose.

Initiatives

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in California

The number of valid signatures for citizen-initiated measures in California are based on the votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election, which are held every four years. Initiated constitutional amendments require 8% of that total while initiated state statutes and veto referendums require 5%. The requirements for each type in 1996 were as follows:

• Initiated constitutional amendment (ICA): 693,230
• Initiated state statute (ISS): 433,269
• Veto referendum (VR): 433,269

See also

California Ballot Propositions
Select a page from the dropdown below to learn more about California ballot measures. List of California ballot propositionsList of California veto referendumsList of California state bond issuesList of California ballot initiatives that were withdrawn after signature verificationNumber of ballot propositions per decade in CaliforniaList of most expensive California ballot proposition campaignsContributions to California ballot proposition campaignsCalifornia ballot initiative petition signature costsLaws governing the initiative process in CaliforniaSignature requirements for ballot measures in CaliforniaHistory of initiative and referendum in CaliforniaSubmit

• 1996 ballot measures
• List of California ballot measures
• Laws governing ballot measures in California
• Laws governing the initiative process in California
• California signature requirements
• History of Initiative and Referendum in California

External links

• California Secretary of State
• California State Legislature
• Official Voter Guide to the November 5, 1996 ballot propositions
• Official Voter Guide to the March 26, 1996 ballot propositions
• November 5, 1996 California election results (dead link)
• March 26, 1996 California elections results
• PDF of the March 26 voter guide
• PDF of the March 26 voter guide (Proposition 203 only)
• PDF of the November 5 voter guide