California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: In Committee 2 D cosponsors

SCA 6 — A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Sections 15 and 17 of Article II thereof, and by amending Section 10 of Article V thereof, relating to elections.

Last action — Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

The California Constitution provides that voters may recall a state officer by majority vote and, in the same election, elect a successor with a plurality of the vote. The Constitution prohibits an officer who is the subject of a recall election from being a candidate for successor. The Constitution also prohibits a successor candidacy for the office of judge of the Supreme Court or a court of appeal. The Constitution provides that the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor when a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor, and requires the Lieutenant Governor to act as Governor during the impeachment, absence from the state, or other temporary disability of the Governor or of a Governor-elect who fails to take office. When a recall of the Governor is initiated, the Constitution requires the Lieutenant Governor to perform the recall duties of the Governor. The Constitution requires the Governor to fill vacancies in certain judicial and executive offices by appointment, as specified. This measure would provide, in the event an officer is removed in a recall election, for the office to remain vacant until a successor candidate to hold the unexpired term of the office receives a majority of votes at a special election, or for the office to remain vacant for the remainder of the term if the nomination period for the subsequent term of that office has closed. The measure would allow an officer who was the subject of the recall election to be a candidate in the special election. The measure would require the Legislature to enact laws providing for the election of a successor. If the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, or a member of the State Board of Equalization is removed from office in a recall election, this measure would provide that a special election will not be held and instead would require the Governor to appoint a successor for the remainder of the unexpired term using existing procedures for filling a vacancy in such offices, provided that the officer who was the subject of the recall election may not be appointed to fill the vacancy in that office. If the Governor is removed from office in a recall election, this measure would provide that the Lieutenant Governor will become Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the Governor is removed from office by recall before the close of the nomination period for the next statewide election during the first two years of the Governor's term, the measure would provide for a special election to be held to replace the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term, to be consolidated with the next statewide primary election and, if necessary, the subsequent statewide general election. The measure would require the Secretary of State to perform the recall duties of the Governor when a recall of the Governor is initiated.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  2. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  3. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  4. From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 3.

  5. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 116 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Newman

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (116)

116 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SCA 6 do?
The California Constitution provides that voters may recall a state officer by majority vote and, in the same election, elect a successor with a plurality of the vote. The Constitution prohibits an officer who is the subject of a recall election from being a candidate for successor. The Constitution also prohibits a successor candidacy for the office of judge of the Supreme Court or a court of appeal. The Constitution provides that the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor when a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor, and requires the Lieutenant Governor to act as Governor during the impeachment, absence from the state, or other temporary disability of the Governor or of a Governor-elect who fails to take office. When a recall of the Governor is initiated, the Constitution requires the Lieutenant Governor to perform the recall duties of the Governor. The Constitution requires the Governor to fill vacancies in certain judicial and executive offices by appointment, as specified. This measure would provide, in the event an officer is removed in a recall election, for the office to remain vacant until a successor candidate to hold the unexpired term of the office receives a majority of votes at a special election, or for the office to remain vacant for the remainder of the term if the nomination period for the subsequent term of that office has closed. The measure would allow an officer who was the subject of the recall election to be a candidate in the special election. The measure would require the Legislature to enact laws providing for the election of a successor. If the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, or a member of the State Board of Equalization is removed from office in a recall election, this measure would provide that a special election will not be held and instead would require the Governor to appoint a successor for the remainder of the unexpired term using existing procedures for filling a vacancy in such offices, provided that the officer who was the subject of the recall election may not be appointed to fill the vacancy in that office. If the Governor is removed from office in a recall election, this measure would provide that the Lieutenant Governor will become Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the Governor is removed from office by recall before the close of the nomination period for the next statewide election during the first two years of the Governor's term, the measure would provide for a special election to be held to replace the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term, to be consolidated with the next statewide primary election and, if necessary, the subsequent statewide general election. The measure would require the Secretary of State to perform the recall duties of the Governor when a recall of the Governor is initiated.
Who sponsors SCA 6?
SCA 6 is sponsored by Newman, Hertzberg, Leyva, Stern, Henry I. (Democratic), Umberg, Thomas J. (Democratic), and Ting.
What is the current status of SCA 6?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SCA 6?
Track SCA 6 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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