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<ns0:Id>20250SB__004698AMD</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>98</ns0:VersionNum>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2024-12-12</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-05</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
<ns0:MeasureType>SB</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>46</ns0:MeasureNum>
<ns0:MeasureState>AMD</ns0:MeasureState>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Umberg</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Umberg</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Sections 6041, 6340, 6520, 6720, 6722, 6851, 6852, 6901, and 13314 of, and to add Section 6901.7 to, the Elections Code, relating to elections.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>elections</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Presidential elections: qualifications for office.</ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>Existing law requires the Secretary of State to place the name of a candidate upon a political party’s presidential primary ballot when the Secretary of State has determined that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the nomination of that party for President. Each qualified political party is required to notify the Secretary of State of the names of the party’s nominees for President and Vice President on or before the 75th day before a presidential general election, and the Secretary of State is required to place the names of those nominees upon the ballot for the election.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would prohibit the Secretary of State from placing the name of any candidate for the office of
President or Vice President upon the ballot, if the candidate does not affirm, under oath, that the candidate will fully meet the qualifications of the office. Because a person who willfully makes a false statement under oath is guilty of the crime of perjury, this bill expands the scope of that crime and thereby creates a state-mandated local program. If the Secretary of State has reasonable suspicion based on articulable fact that a candidate for President or Vice President does not meet the qualifications for office, the bill would authorize the Secretary of State to investigate the candidate’s qualifications and request proof of the candidate’s constitutional eligibility to hold the office.</html:p>
<html:p>The bill would authorize an elector to challenge the qualifications of a candidate for President or Vice President by filing a petition in the Superior Court of the County of Sacramento, and it would authorize a candidate who is not certified by the Secretary of State for
failure to meet the qualifications of office to challenge the Secretary of State’s determination by filing a petition in the same court. The bill would require the petition to be filed no later than 5 days after the date on which the Secretary of State issues the certified list of candidates for the election. The bill would require the court to hold a hearing no more than 10 days after the Secretary of State issues the certified list of candidates and to issue a decision no more than 48 hours after the hearing.</html:p>
<html:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
<ns0:LocalProgram>YES</ns0:LocalProgram>
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<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
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<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
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<ns0:Bill id="bill">
<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_14AB6BD2-FE7E-416E-BECE-43A32827E6FE">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6041 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>6041.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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Except as provided in Section 6901.7, the Secretary of State shall place the name of a candidate upon the presidential primary ballot when the Secretary of State has determined that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. The Secretary of State shall include as criteria for selecting candidates the fact of qualifying for funding under the Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1974, as amended.
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<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
On or before the 88th day preceding a presidential primary election, the Secretary of State shall publicly announce and distribute to the news media for publication a list of the selected candidates that the Secretary of State intends to place on the ballot at the following presidential primary election.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6340 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>6340.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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Except as provided in Section 6901.7, the Secretary of State shall place the name of a candidate upon the Republican presidential primary ballot when the Secretary of State has determined that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized throughout the United States or California as a candidate for the nomination of the Republican Party for President of the United States.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
On or before the 88th day preceding a presidential primary election the Secretary of State shall publicly announce and distribute to the news media for publication a list of the
candidates the Secretary of State intends to place on the ballot at the following presidential primary election. Following this announcement, the Secretary of State may add candidates to the Secretary of State’s selection, but the Secretary of State shall not delete any candidate whose name appears on the announced list, except as provided in Section 6901.7.
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<ns0:BillSection id="id_9406EB27-603D-4E62-B163-F6EED7DFEE1C">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6520 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_82E94E04-7EA0-49E8-A433-D219EC91E943">
<ns0:Num>6520.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Except as provided in Section 6901.7, the Secretary of State shall place the name of a candidate upon the American Independent Party presidential preference ballot when the Secretary of State has determined that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized in the news media throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the nomination of the American Independent Party for President of the United States.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
On or before the 88th day preceding a presidential primary election, the Secretary of State shall publicly announce and distribute to
the news media for publication a list of the candidates the Secretary of State intends to place on the ballot at the following presidential primary election. Following this announcement, the Secretary of State may add candidates to the Secretary of State’s selection, but the Secretary of State may not delete any candidate whose name appears on the announced list, except as provided in Section 6901.7.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 4.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6720 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_86238D17-64D5-4854-A8DE-088171872F56">
<ns0:Num>6720.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_AD841863-104F-4D24-A75C-73B4A354B674">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Except as provided in Section 6901.7, the Secretary of State shall place the name of a candidate upon the Peace and Freedom Party presidential preference ballot when the Secretary of State has determined that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the presidential nomination of the Peace and Freedom Party or the national party with which the Peace and Freedom Party is affiliated.</html:p>
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<ns0:BillSection id="id_7BB4B838-EBE9-42DE-86B9-56895AF55F3C">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 5.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6722 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_F88FA390-317F-45F5-B0F0-5B458DE88D2F">
<ns0:Num>6722.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_7B8157A6-8558-4F0E-B3FB-AFE422E619F4">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>On or before the 88th day preceding a presidential primary election, the Secretary of State shall publicly announce and distribute to the news media for publication a list of the candidates the Secretary of State intends to place on the ballot at the following presidential primary election. Following this announcement, the Secretary of State may add to the Secretary of State’s selection, but the Secretary of State may not delete any candidate whose name appears on the announced list, except as provided in Section 6901.7. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of the list and any subsequent additions thereto to the Chairpersons of the Peace and Freedom
Party State and County Central Committees.</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 6.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6851 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_B0D87A55-F920-460E-B72E-82D5179547C9">
<ns0:Num>6851.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_19AB46D2-F4FA-4147-9576-653AFCAD9A98">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Except as provided in Section 6901.7, the Secretary of State shall place the name of a candidate upon the Green Party presidential preference primary ballot when the Secretary of State has determined that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the presidential nomination of the Green Party or the national political party with which the Green Party is affiliated.</html:p>
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<ns0:BillSection id="id_523EC14F-BF99-4561-A056-2B4D5ADEC7F9">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 7.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6852 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_B8725F77-D81E-48ED-8107-19322BEECF1A">
<ns0:Num>6852.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>On or before the 88th day preceding a presidential primary election, the Secretary of State shall publicly announce and distribute to the news media for publication a list of the candidates the Secretary of State intends to place on the ballot at the following presidential primary election. Following this announcement, the Secretary of State may add candidates to the Secretary of State’s selection, but the Secretary of State may not delete any candidate whose name appears on the announced list, except as provided in Section 6901.7. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of the list and any subsequent additions to the list to the Green Party Liaison to
the Secretary of State.</html:p>
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<ns0:BillSection id="id_4DA1DF40-FF6A-485B-BD09-FDAABA6FFCBD">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 8.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6901 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_BAF6BB02-F085-4C3B-831C-5466A655CE3D">
<ns0:Num>6901.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_725130E8-C627-4C64-8D76-1A9F8A75CE13">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Whenever a political party, in accordance with Section 6864, 7100, 7300, 7578, or 7843, submits to the Secretary of State its certified list of nominees for electors and alternate electors of President and Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of State shall notify each candidate for elector and alternate elector of the elector’s nomination by the party. Except as provided in Section 6901.7, the Secretary of State shall cause the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States of the several political
parties to be placed upon the ballot for the ensuing general election.</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 9.</ns0:Num>
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Section 6901.7 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_B18DB3C2-3F54-4C79-9CFC-A7861AA98B4A">
<ns0:Num>6901.7.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A person is eligible to be a candidate for President or Vice President of the United States in a presidential primary or general election only if that person has the qualifications to be elected to or hold that office as set forth in the United States Constitution on the date the term of that office begins.
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<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Secretary of State shall not certify the name of any candidate for the office of President or Vice President of the United States, and shall not place the candidate’s name on the ballot, if the candidate does not affirm, under oath, that the candidate will fully meet the qualifications to be elected to and hold the office of President or Vice President of the United States.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If the Secretary of State has reasonable suspicion based on articulable fact that a candidate for President or Vice President of the United States does not meet the qualifications to be elected to or hold office as set forth in the United States Constitution, the Secretary of State shall investigate the candidate’s qualifications and may request that the candidate provide proof of their constitutional eligibility to be elected to and hold office before placing their name on the ballot.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An elector may challenge the qualifications of a candidate for President or Vice President of the United States by filing a verified petition setting forth the facts alleged concerning the qualifications of the candidate in the Superior Court of the County of Sacramento.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If
the Secretary of State does not certify a candidate for President or Vice President of the United States for failure to meet the qualifications of office, that candidate may challenge the Secretary of State’s determination by filing a verified petition setting forth the facts alleged concerning the qualifications of the candidate in the Superior Court of the County of Sacramento.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For either a presidential primary election or a presidential general election, a petition brought pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be filed no later than five days after the date on which the Secretary of State issues the certified list of candidates for the election pursuant to Section 8120 or Section 8148.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The hearing on the qualifications of the candidate shall be held not less than five nor more than ten days after the date on which the Secretary of State issues the certified list of candidates
for the election. The court shall hear testimony and other evidence and, within 48 hours after the close of the hearing, determine whether the candidate has the qualifications to be elected to or hold the office for which the candidate has declared.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
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In an action brought by an elector to challenge a candidate’s qualifications for office, the elector has the burden to sustain the challenge by a preponderance of the evidence. In an action brought by a candidate to challenge the candidate’s exclusion from the ballot by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State has the burden of sustaining the candidate’s exclusion from the ballot by a preponderance of the evidence.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 10.</ns0:Num>
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Section 13314 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>13314.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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(1)
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An elector may seek a writ of mandate alleging that an error or omission has occurred, or is about to occur, in the placing of a name on, or in the printing of, a ballot, county voter information guide, state voter information guide, or other official matter, or that any neglect of duty has occurred, or is about to occur.
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<html:p>
(2)
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A peremptory writ of mandate shall issue only upon proof of both of the following:
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<html:p>
(A)
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That the error, omission, or neglect is in violation of this code or the Constitution.
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(B)
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(i)
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That issuance of the writ will not substantially interfere with the conduct of the election.
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(ii)
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For purposes of this subparagraph, the Secretary of State not placing the name of a candidate on the ballot for failure to meet the constitutional eligibility requirements to be elected to or hold office pursuant to Section 6901.7 will not substantially interfere with the conduct of the election.
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<html:p>
(3)
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The action or appeal shall have priority over all other civil matters.
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<html:p>
(4)
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The Secretary of State shall be named as a respondent or a real party in interest in any proceeding under this section concerning a measure or a candidate described in Section 15375, except for a
candidate for judge of the superior court.
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<html:p>
(5)
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If the error or omission involves the Secretary of State placing or refusing to place a constitutionally ineligible candidate for President or Vice President of the United States on the ballot, subdivision (c) of Section 6901.7 applies to an action for a writ of mandate brought pursuant to this section.
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<html:p>
(b)
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Venue for a proceeding under this section shall be exclusively in Sacramento County in any of the following cases:
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<html:p>
(1)
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The Secretary of State is named as a real party in interest or as a respondent.
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<html:p>
(2)
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A candidate for statewide elective office is named as a party.
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<html:p>
(3)
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A statewide measure that is to be placed on the ballot is the subject of the proceeding.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 11.</ns0:Num>
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No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
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B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
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B of the California Constitution.
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