(a) Upon receipt of a request from the proponents of a proposed initiative measure for a circulating title and summary, the Attorney General shall initiate a public review process for a period of 30 days by doing all of the following:
(1) Posting the text of the proposed initiative measure on the Attorney General’s internet website.
(2) Inviting, and providing for the submission of, written public comments on the proposed initiative measure on the Attorney General’s internet website. The site shall accept written public comments for the duration of the public review period. The written public comments shall be public records, available for inspection upon request pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code, but shall not be displayed to the public on the Attorney General’s internet website during the public review period. The Attorney General shall transmit any written public comments received during the public review period to the proponents of the proposed initiative measure.
(b) During the public review period, the proponents of the proposed initiative measure may submit amendments to the measure that are reasonably germane to the theme, purpose, or subject of the initiative measure as originally proposed. However, amendments shall not be submitted if the initiative measure as originally proposed would not effect a substantive change in law.
(1) An amendment shall be submitted with a signed request by all the proponents to prepare a circulating title and summary using the amended language.
(2) An amendment shall be submitted to the Attorney General’s Initiative Coordinator located in the Attorney General’s Sacramento Office via United States Postal Service, alternative mail service, or personal delivery. Only printed documents shall be accepted; facsimile or email delivery shall not be accepted.
(3) The submission of an amendment shall not extend the period to prepare the estimate required by Section 9005.
(4) An amendment shall not be accepted more than five days after the public review period is concluded. However, a proponent shall not be prohibited from proposing a new initiative measure and requesting that a circulating title and summary be prepared for that measure pursuant to Section 9001.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 96. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)