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2020 Election California Ballot Proposit …

2020 Election California Ballot Propositions

  • Is an Uber/Lyft driver entitled to vacation pay, sick leave?
  • Does a dialysis center need a physician on staff?
  • If in inherit property from my parents, what is my property tax base?
  • If I’m arrested do I need to pay CASH bail?

All these questions and more are on the 2020 California ballot under citizens initiatives (or Propositions).  Often confusing and misleading titles, CA is infamous for these initiatives and it’s up to YOU to votes YEA or NAY.  Attached is a simple (I hope) explanation for each initiative (completely non-partisan) to help inform you when you complete your ballot.

As a reminder, ALL registered voters in CA will receive a mail-in ballot NEXT WEEK!  If you changed addresses in 2020 you will need to register. Voter registration deadline is October 19th!  If you would like additional information on any of the propositions, please call or email me. 

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE (and sign your ballot when/if you mail it in).

Prop 14 Stem Cell Bond Issue

What

Background

Issues $5.5 Billion in bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) "stem cell"

In 2004 voters approved Prop 71 which created CIRM and $3Billion in funds for stem cell research. Only $132M in funds remain

YES vote=

Supports issuing a $5.5B General Obligation Bond for the state's stem cell research institute for diseases such as: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia.

NO vote=

Opposes issuing $5.5B bond

Prop 15 Tax on Commercial/Industrial Properties [NOTE: This DOES NOT affect residential properties at all]

What

Amends the state constitution to require commercial and industrial properties (except agricultural) to be taxed on their fair market value.

Background

In 1978 Prop 13 put a cap on residential, commercial and industrial properties taxed based on purchase price. The tax increase is limited to 1% of the original purchase price with annual adjustment equal to inflation or 2% (whichever is lower). This bill would maintain the property tax cap for residential properties ONLY. The increased revenues to the state would be directed to education and public health. Expected revenue benefit of $8B - $12.5B per year.

YES Vote =

Support constitutional amendment commercial and industrial properties would be taxed at CURRENT fair market value rather than original purchase price.

NO Vote =

Opposes constitutional amendment and maintain current property tax at original purchase price.

Prop 16 Repeal Proposition 209 (1996) Affirmative Action Amendment

What

Amends the state constitution by repealing Prop 209 (1996) by allowing government decision-making policies to consider race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin to address diversity in the operation of public employment, education or contracting.

Background

In 1996 stated that discrimination and preferential treatment were prohibited in public employment, public education and public contracting on account of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

YES Vote =

Repeals Prop 209 (1996) and allows government to use race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin to address diversity in public employment, education and/or contracting.

NO Vote =

Opposes constitutional amendment and maintains current practice of NOT using race, sex, color, etc. in public employment, education and/or contracting.

Prop 17 Voting Rights Restoration for Paroles

What

Amends the state constitution to allow people on parole for felony convictions to vote

Background

Currently people on parole for felonies are disqualified from participating from voting until imprisonment and parole are completed. If passed, felons who are on parole would be able to vote.

YES Vote =

Amends state constitution to allow felons on parole to vote.

NO Vote =

Opposes constitutional amendment and prevents people on parole for felony convictions from voting.

Prop 19 Property Tax Transfers

What

Changes the rules for tax assessment transfers. Allows "eligible" (over 55-years-old, disabled, victims of natural disasters) homeowners to transfer tax assessment to different home of the same or lower fair market value - thus allowing them to move without paying higher taxes.

Background

Currently grandparents and/or parents can transfer primary residential properties to their children or grandchildren without the property tax assessment resetting to market value.

YES Vote =

Increases property tax to fair market value on inherited property tax if not used for primary residence.

NO Vote =

Opposes the constitutional amendment and maintains property transfer without upward adjustment of property tax.

Prop 20 Criminal Sentencing, Parole and DNA Collection

What

Amends several criminal sentencing and supervision laws. Specific type of theft and fraud crimes (firearm theft, vehicle theft, unlawful use of credit card) as felons rather than misdemeanors.

YES Vote =

Supports initiative to add crimes to the list of violent felonies; also requires DNA collection for certain misdemeanors.

NO Vote =

Opposes initiative to add crimes to list of violent felons.

Prop 21 Local Rent Control

What

Allows local governments to enact rent control

Background

In 1995 a law (Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act) was passed allowing landlords to increase rent prices to market rates after a tenant moves out. This measure would replace Costa-Hawkins. Additionally, in 2018 voters rejected Prop 10 which would have allowed local governments to adopt rent control on any type of rental housing. [AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) was behind Prop 10 and also sponsors Prop 21]

YES Vote =

Allows local governments to enact rent control on housing first occupied over 15 years ago (with exception for landlords who own less than 2 homes).

NO Vote =

Opposes ballot initiative, thereby continuing to prohibit rent control on housing first occupied after 2/1/95.

Prop 22 App-Based Drivers/Independent Contractors (UBER/LYFT)

What

App-based drivers (e.g. Uber/Lyft) to be considered Independent Contractors and NOT employees.

Background

In 2019 AB 5 passed which defined Independent Contractors based upon a 3-prong test: a)worker is free from company control; b)work done is not in the company's usual course of business; and c) worker engaged in established trade, business of same nature as work performed. [Basically, the state made it very difficult for someone to be an Independent Contractor based upon the idea the employers were taking advantage of independent contractors by now calling them employees and thereby forgoing sick time, vacation pay, etc.]

YES Vote =

Defines app-based drivers as Independent Contractors (the way things are currently)

NO Vote =

Opposes ballot initiative deferring to AB 5 to decide whether app-based drivers are employees or independent contractors

Prop 23 Dialysis Clinic Requirements

What

Requires dialysis clinics to have at least one licensed physician to be present (or nurse practitioner or PA if shortage of doctors); report data on dialysis related infections to state health dept.; prohibits closing dialysis clinic without state approval; prohibits clinics from refusing to treat patients based on source of payment for care.

Background

In 2018, voters rejected Prop 8 which would have required dialysis clinics to issue refunds to patients for profits in excess of 115% of the cost of direct patient care. Prop 8 was sponsored by SEIU labor union and pitted them against DaVita the largest private dialysis provider in the area. SEIU supports Prop 23 also.

YES Vote =

Requires dialysis clinics to have physician (or functional equivalent) on site; report infections to state department of health and notify state before closing.

NO Vote =

Opposes ballot initiative and keeps things as they are

Prop 24 Consumer Personal Information Law

What

Expands consumer data privacy laws. Prevents businesses from sharing personal information; allows for consumer correction of inaccurate personal information; limits businesses' use of "sensitive personal information" including geolocation; race; ethnicity; religion sexual orientation, etc.

Background

In 2018 SF developer, Alastair Mactaggart, filed a similar measure but withdrew it after the legislature passed the California Consumer Privacy act of 2018 (CCPA). Mactaggart wants to expand the CCCPA with additional rights. Furthermore, ballot initiatives cannot be amended without the approval of the voters.

YES Vote =

Expands consumer data privacy laws including provisions to allow consumers to direct businesses NOT to share their personal information and creates the Privacy Protection Act to enforce consumer data privacy laws

NO Vote =

Opposes ballot initiative, things stay as they are now.

Prop 25 Cash Bail vs. Risk Assessment

What

This is a "Repeal Referendum" which would overturn the existing "risk assessment" method used by California courts (in place of cash bail) and return to a cash bail system.

Background

In 2018 SB 10 was signed into law by Gov. Brown. SB 10 made California the first state to end cash bail for all detained suspects awaiting trial. In the alternative to cash bail, a "risk assessment" is used to determine whether a detained suspect should be granted pretrial release and under what conditions. This initiative is a "VETO REFERENDUM" to overturn SB 10. The backers are primarily the bail bond companies. [There are an overabundance of moving parts here. But the bottom line is to use an alternative to cash bails. On the one hand, the bail bond companies obviously want to return to cash bail; on the other hand, many civil liberty organizations do not like the "risk assessment" tool currently in place; many consider it racially biased and left to the discretion of judges. However, this referendum does not offer an alternative to cash bail].

YES Vote =

Upholds SB 10 which replaced cash bail with a risk assessment.

NO Vote = 

Repeals SB 10 returning to cash bail system.

DAP Docs: HIV Won’t Stop COVID-19 Vacc …

Dr Tulika Singh

DAP Docs: HIV Won’t Stop COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Participation 

Media Contact:
Jack Bunting
(760) 323-2118
[email protected]

PLWH are commonly overlooked as subjects in pharmaceutical studies and vaccine research, so our doctors practice extra caution when choosing medicines for patients. But when they learned that PLWH were being left out of two COVID-19 vaccine trials, they mobilized.

Thanks to our team joining forces with other LGBTQ and HIV advocates, biotech companies have reversed their policies. In a study protocol change, people living with stable HIV will now be included in the trials.

Reasons for excluding this group include assuming that PLWH are weakened physically, but after more than a decade of providing HIV care, Dr. Singh knows this to be a generalization. Today, people on antiretroviral medications have strong immune systems, thanks to viral suppression. They are suitable candidates for these studies.

According to Dr. Singh, there is a risk when PLWH are not included in these studies.

“This is a disservice to them, as what works for non-positive people might not work in PLWH,” she said. “But we wouldn’t know until it fails or is unsafe in this population, and it’s too late by then.”

Without having PLWH represented in COVID-19 vaccine trials, we won’t have an accurate picture of how PLWH will respond to the intervention in the real world, according to Dr. Singh.

It’s important to know, because despite the miracle of modern ART, doctors still monitor their patients for immune dysfunction, persistent inflammation, and evolving host microbiome issues caused by the HIV virus and medications.

Please click here to learn more about Research at DAP, including ANCHOR Study, which is resuming soon.

About Desert AIDS Project

Desert AIDS Project (DAP) is a humanitarian healthcare organization in Palm Springs, CA offering a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services. DAP’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STI testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide free HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future. DAP has earned a “Four Star” rating from Charity Navigator for the twelfth consecutive year – landing DAP in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that we exceed industry standards in terms of our financial health, accountability, and transparency.

Visit www.desertaidsproject.orgwww.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn more.

D.A.P. Support Letter for SB 1021

Senator Ed Hernandez
Chair, Senate Health Committee
State Capitol Room 2191
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: SB 1021 (Wiener) – Support
As Introduced, January 29, 2018

Dear Senator Hernandez:

Desert AIDS Project is pleased to support SB 1021 (Wiener), which will ensure consumers have access to vital medications by keeping existing consumer protections on prescription drug co-pays and formulary standards. SB 1021 will continue the co-pay cap of $250 for a 30-day supply of a prescription drug that was established by AB 339 (Gordon, Chapter 619 of 2015) and set standards for tiers in drug formularies. These consumer protections will expire at the end of 2019 if SB 1021 is not passed.

Prescription drug costs continue to skyrocket. Consumers are facing price increases on everything from longtime generics used to treat common conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol to new treatments for chronic diseases such as hepatitis C. Before the AB 339 consumer protections were put in place, Californians with serious and chronic conditions like cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis (MS), and lupus were particularly vulnerable to higher out-of-pocket costs because high-cost specialty drugs were often placed on the highest tier of a drug formulary. Consumers often reached their out-of-pocket limit of as much as $6,000 in the first month of the plan year when filling just one of their prescriptions.

For individual and small employer coverage, AB 339 also set standards for each tier of a drug formulary to help prevent health plans from routinely placing all specialty drugs on the highest cost tier. The bill also required health plans place a drug on a tier based on standards for safety and efficacy, not just its cost. AB 339 also prohibited health plans from placing most or all of the drugs to treat a particular condition on the highest cost tier of a formulary – preventing discrimination based on a health condition.

SB 1021 will maintain these protections, ensuring that all Californians, including those living with chronic conditions, are able to afford life-saving prescription drugs. This bill will also keep co-pays affordable for consumers and maintain standards for formulary tiers, helping consumers have access to the prescriptions they need.

For these reasons, we support SB 1021 (Wiener). Please contact Carl Baker, Director of Legal and Legislative Affairs at 760-656-8482 if you have any questions about our position on this bill.

Carl Baker
Director of Legal and Legislative Affairs

cc: Members, Senate Health Committee
Senator Scott Wiener, author