The Department of Industrial Relations announced it intends to move forward with implementing AB 257 while the referendum signature verification process is ongoing.
The coalition sent a letter to the Department of Industrial Relations to confirm they did not intend to take any action to implement AB 257 in light of the filed referendum petition. Unfortunately, the California Department of Industrial Relations stated they will begin implementing AB 257 on January 1, 2023, notwithstanding the timely-filed referendum petition containing over one million signatures.
Over one million California voters signed a referendum petition, requiring the state to pause the implementation of AB 257. The number of signatures collected far exceeds the 623,212 required by law.
Under Article II, section 9(a) of the California Constitution, voters have the right to collect signatures and file a referendum against laws that they find objectionable. The California Supreme Court called the referendum process “ones of the state’s most precious rights of our democratic process” (Assoc. Home Builders, Inc. v. City of Livermore (1976) 18 Cal.3d 582, 591.)
When this happens, a law cannot go into effect until and unless it is approved by a majority of qualified California voters.
Ad paid for by Save Local Restaurants, a coalition of California small business owners, restaurateurs, franchisees, employees, consumers and community-based organizations. Committee major funding fromIn-N-Out BurgersChipotle Mexican GrillStarbucksFunding details at www.fppc.ca.gov |
Paid for by Save Local Restaurants, a coalition of California small business owners, restaurateurs, franchisees, employees, consumers and community-based organizations. Committee Top Funders: Chipotle Mexican Grill, In-N-Out Burgers, Chick-fil-A.