Pamphlet to Explain Last-Minute Propositions

Acting at the last minute of the 1994 session, the Legislature added three more propositions to the Nov. 8 ballot, for a total of 10 statewide measures to face California voters.

The latest proposals were enacted Aug. 31, the final day of the session, but too late to be included in the regular voter pamphlet. As a result, a supplemental pamphlet will be printed and mailed Sept. 29 at the same time as the regular booklet.

The newest measures, each a proposed constitutional amendment, include:

* Proposition 189, by Assemblyman Cruz Bustamante (D-Fresno), which would expand no-bail restrictions to felony sexual assault defendants who, in the opinion of the judge, would be likely to injure others if they were freed on bond.

* Proposition 190, by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), which would overhaul the state Commission on Judicial Performance with the intent of making it less secretive and more aggressive in taking disciplinary actions against judges.

* Proposition 191, by Sen. Ralph Dills (D-El Segundo), which would abolish justice courts, found mostly in rural areas, and rename them municipal courts. Salaries and qualifications of current justice court judges would remain the same unless changed by the Legislature.

Several days before the end of this year’s session, the Legislature also took the rare step of removing a previously qualified proposal from the ballot, Proposition 182.

Sponsored by Speaker Brown and real estate interests, Proposition 182 was a $185-million bond issue to finance mortgage loans to first-time home buyers. A virtually identical measure was defeated by voters in the Nov. 2, 1993, statewide special election.

Given the voters’ wholesale rejection of bond issues in June, the Legislature and Gov. Pete Wilson agreed to strike Proposition 182 from the upcoming general election rather than risk its defeat.

Seven other ballot measures will be decided Nov. 8, ranging from a $1-billion bond issue for expansion of rail transit systems to the “three strikes” initiative for violent and serious felons to denial of public education and non-emergency medical benefits to illegal immigrants.

Printing costs for both sets of ballot pamphlets are estimated at $3.6 million and postage will total more than $2 million.