Signatures for Ballot Initiatives Coming Our Way

By Ron Bernard, SWCLA Newsletter Editor

Attorney General Maura Healey has certified 20 proposed ballot questions for the November 2016 state ballot.  The topics range from animal cruelty, to marijuana, to taxes.  The rush for signatures will ramp up during the upcoming months of October and November because state law requires proponents of ballot initiatives to file 64,750 signatures by December 2, 2015.

The current session of the state legislature has the ability to enact any of the certified proposals by May 4, 2016.  If made into law by that date, there is obviously no need for the measure to appear on the subsequent November ballot.  However, if the legislature fails to enact a proposed ballot question by the May 4 date, the question can appear on the November ballot if proponents are able to collect an additional 10,792 signatures.

The Attorney General has also certified two proposed amendments to the state constitution for the November 2018 state ballot.  In addition to the 64,750 signatures received by December 2, 2015, proposed amendments must be approved by 25 percent of state the legislators, and than again in the 2017-18 legislative session before qualifying to appear on the November 2018 state ballot.

(Petition Numbers identified above the name and description.)

15-05
Constitutional Amendment regarding the public funding of abortion. This law would give legislators the authority to ban the use of MassHealth or other public funds to pay for abortions.

15-17
Constitutional Amendment to provide resources for education and transportation through an additional tax on incomes in excess of $1,000,000. This measure would impose an additional 4% tax on people with taxable incomes greater than $1 million.  Revenue could only be used to fund public education and transportation.

15-07
Ballot Petition for a law relative to animal shelter record keeping. This proposal would require animal shelters to keep public records detailing when each animal arrived at the shelter, the number of each type of animal at the shelter, and how many animals at the shelter were returned to their owners, adopted by new owners, euthanized, lost, stolen, transferred, or died of natural causes.

15-08, 15-09
Ballot Petition for a laws relative to the reduction of euthanasia in animal shelters.  Before euthanizing an animal, shelters would be required to contact animal rescue agencies and offer them an opportunity to take possession of the animal.

15-10
Ballot Petition for a law relative to public records.  This proposal would allow plaintiffs to recoup attorneys’ fees if a court determines a public official acted in bad faith by denying access to public records.

15-11
Ballot Petition for a law relative to the prevention of cruelty to farm animals.  This initiative would require that animals not be confined in enclosures that prevent them from lying down, standing up, turning around, or fully extending their limbs.

15-12
Ballot Petition for a law relative to ending Common Core education standards.  Under this ballot petition, Massachusetts would abandon the national Common Core education standards.

15-18
Ballot Petition for a law relative to renewable energy.  This petition would establish the following energy goals:

• By the year 2020, meet at least 20% of The Commonwealth’s electric load through new, renewable, and alternative energy generation.
• By 2030, at least 40%.
• By 2040, at least 70%.
• By 2050, 100%.

15-19, 15-20
Ballot Petitions for laws relative to Massachusetts Fair Health Care Pricing.  These petitions would regulate prices hospitals could charge insurers, reducing the disparity in prices for similar procedures done at different hospitals.  Under these proposals, hospitals could not charge insurers more than 20% above nor 10% below the statewide average cost of a procedure.

15-23, 15-24, 15-25
Ballot Petitions for laws relative to ending marijuana prohibition for persons 21 years of age or older.  Three competing marijuana ballot initiatives.  Under these proposals, marijuana sales would be subject to the 6.25% state sales tax, and calls for criminal penalties for selling marijuana to a minor.  The petitions would not limit how much marijuana adults could posses or grow.

15-26
Ballot Petition for a law relative to solar net metering.  This ballot initiative would eliminate the state’s cap on net metering, a mechanism that allows owners of solar arrays to essentially sell excess electricity back to the power grid.
15-27
Ballot Petition for a law relative to the regulation and taxation of marijuana.  This proposal would legalize marijuana and establish a Cannabis Control Commission to oversee licensed marijuana retail shops and processing facilities in Massachusetts.  The proposal would  subject marijuana sales to the 6.25% sales tax, the 3.75% excise tax, and a local option tax of up to 2%.  Adults 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to 1 ounce of the drug outside their home, and up to 10 ounces inside their home.

15-28
Ballot Petition for a law relative to the whale safe fishing act.  Under this proposal, commercial fishing gear known to entangle whales and sea turtles would be banned.

15-29, 15-30
Ballot Petitions for laws relative to the elimination of double taxation on the sale of tobacco products.  This proposal would eliminate the state’s 6.25% sales tax from tobacco sales, which are already subject to state and federal excise taxes.

15-31
Ballot Petition for a law to allow fair access to public charter schools. This petition would allow the state to approve up to 12 new charter schools each year that would not be subject to existing funding caps.

15-34
Ballot Petition for a law relative to expanded gaming.  This proposal would authorize Massachusetts to issue a license for an additional slots parlor, provided the facility is adjacent to a horseracing track.

15-35
Ballot Petition for a law relative to fairer scheduling for workers.  Fast food restaurants and retail stores would be required to pay an employee one to four hours of extra pay when the employee’s schedule is changed less than 14 days before a scheduled shift,

Read more by Gerry Tuoti, Wicked Local Newsbank Editor