The California Catholic Daily reports:
Supporters of same-sex marriage in California are moving quickly to undo Proposition 8 in case the state Supreme Court does not strike it down. Two proposed initiatives have been filed with the attorney general’s office for the 2010 elections – one would simply repeal Prop 8, the other would abolish civil marriages altogether.
On January 12th, a Title and Summary was requested of the CA Attorney General’s Office for a proposed constitutional amendment that would “have the term ‘marriage’ removed from government legislation…[and] replaced with domestic partnership.”
On January 26th, Yes! On Equality submitted a “California Marriage Equality Act” Initiative that would repeal Section 7.5 of Article 1 of the California Constitution ( formerly Prop. 8 ) which states that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
On March 9th, the Attorney General issued the title and summary for the proposed amendment seeking to exclude the term “marriage”:
SUBSTITUTES DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP FOR MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA LAW. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Replaces the term “marriage” with the term “domestic partnership” throughout California law, but preserves the rights provided in marriage. Applies equally to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. Repeals the provision in California’s Constitution that states only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: This measure would have an unknown fiscal effect on state and local governments. (09-0003.)
The Associated Press reports: ”Secretary of State Debra Bowen said Tuesday that supporters must gather nearly 700,000 signatures by early August to get the initiative on the ballot.”
According to the Secretary of State’s Statewide Ballot Initiative Handbook:
Petitions proposing initiative constitutional amendments must be signed by registered voters. The number of signatures must be equal to at least 8% of the total votes cast for Governor at the last gubernatorial election. (Cal. Const., art. II, Section 8(b); Section 9035) The total number of signatures required for such petitions is 694,354.
