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Capitol-Updates

CAPITOL UPDATE #28 July 28, 2022


July 28, 2022

California Federation of Republican Women
Janet Price, President

        Submitted by the CFRW Legislative Analyst Committee        
Karen Contreras, Elaine Freeman, 
 Theresa Speake, and Cheryl Sullivan

MORE ON PROPOSITION 1
The California Constitution declares that defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy are inalienable rights, and that a person may not be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law or equal protection of the laws. The
constitution does not specify the right to contraception or abortion.

Existing California law, the Reproductive Privacy Act, declares that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to personal reproductive decisions and prohibits the state from denying or interfering with a person’s right to choose or obtain an abortion EXCEPT that performance of an abortion is
UNAUTHORIZED if either of the following is true:

a) The person performing or assisting in performing the abortion is not a health care provider authorized to perform or assist in performing an abortion pursuant to Section 2253 of the Business and Professional Code.

b) The abortion is performed on viable fetus – usually 23 weeks – and both the following are established:
In the good faith medical judgment of the physician 1) the fetus was viable and 2) continuation of the pregnancy posed no risk to life or health of the pregnant woman.
State Constitutional Act 10 –was passed by the California legislature on June 27, 2022. This Act would enshrine abortion by amending the California Constitution. Under this Amendment, the legislature and future lawmakers would be prevented from placing reasonable limits on abortions.

The language of the Act prohibits the state from denying or interfering with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and the right to choose or refuse contraceptives.

The Act does not appear to limit “reproductive freedom” to abortion and the freedom to choose contraceptives. It also does not reference the previous language in the California Health and Safety Code that specifies when abortions are not authorized. The vague language of ACA10 about “reproductive freedom” is open to wide-ranging interpretation and could include trans-gender surgeries or cross-sex hormone treatments.

All amendments to the California Constitution must be placed on the Ballot where voters will vote for or against said amendment. This Amendment will be on the November 2022 ballot.

PROPOSITION 26 – California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands – This ballot measure would legalize sports betting at American Indian gaming casinos and licensed racetracks in California.

The ballot measure would define sports betting as wagering on the results of professional, college, or amateur sport and athletic events, except for high school sports, and events featuring a California college team. Individuals would need to be 21 years of age to engage in legal sports betting.

The measure would enact a tax of 10 percent on profits derived from sports betting at racetracks. The state government would be required to distribute the revenue as follows: (a) 15% to the California Department of Health for researching, developing, and implementing programs for problem gambling prevention and mental health and
providing grants to local governments to address problem gambling and mental health; (b) 15% to the Bureau of Gambling Control for enforcing and implementing sports wagering and other forms of gaming within the state and (c) 70% to the general fund for the State.

The ballot measure would also legalize roulette and dice games, such as craps, at tribal casinos; however, tribal-state compacts would need to be amended before these games can be offered.

Issue #28– 07/28/22- By the CFRW Legislative Analysts Committee: Elaine Freeman, Theresa Speake, Karen Contreras, Lou Ann Flaherty Please share this info. in your club newsletters/websites. Comments/Questions: E-mail:
legislativeanalysts@cfrw.org

The Coalition to Authorize Regulated Sports Wagering is leading the campaign in support. The coalition is supported by several American Indian tribes including the top donors to the campaign – The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, Yocha
Dehe Wintun Nation, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The campaign has raised $30.58 million.

Taxpayers Against Special Interest Monopolies is leading the campaign against the proposal. The campaign, along with a terminated PAC No on the Gambling Power Grab, raised $25.54 million. The top donors to the opposition were
gambling-related companies, including the California Commerce Club, Hawaiian Gardens Casino, Park Wet Casinos, The Bicycle Hotel & Casino, PT Gaming LLC, and Knighted Ventures LLC.

As of April 15, 2022, sports betting was legal, or laws to legalize had been approved, in 30 states and D.C. Five of the states – New Jersey, Arkansas, Colorado, Maryland and South Dakota legalized sports betting through a ballot measure.


For further information on any of the bills mentioned here, click on the bill # highlighted in the body of the above articles.

Find/contact your local Legislators, click HERE for Assembly members or HERE for State Senate members to inquire about or let them know your opinion about bills or issues.

To contact your U.S. Representatives, call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121

Listen to hearings on bills that interest you -Senate- click HERE;  Assembly click HERE.

 Calif. Legislative Portal links- Express your support or opposition to a bill or directly to the Legislative committee currently reviewing it (as an individual, not as a member of RWF.

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