Propositions on today's ballot

Prop. 12 -- Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean air and Coastal protection Bond Act of 2000 Will provide $2.1 billion in bond money to protect land around lakes and wildlife habitats improve water and air quality and repair and expand local parks.

Prop. 13 -- Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed protection and flood protection Bond Act Will provide $1.97 billion in bond money for safer drinking water, better water quality, flood protection and water reliability.

Prop. 14 -- Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction  Bond Act of 2000
Provides a bond issue of $350 million for the construction and renovation of library facilities and to expand public access to library services for all Californians.

Prop. 15 -- Crime Laboratories Construction Bond Act of 1999
$220 million will be allotted to build new forensic laboratories and to renovate laboratories already in existence.

Prop. 16 -- Veterans' Homes Bond Act of 2000
Would provide $50 million to replace and renovate veterans' homes in California. 

Prop. 17 -- Charitable Raffles.
Modifies current constitutional prohibition against private lotteries to permit legislative authorization of raffles conducted by private nonprofit organizations for beneficial and charitable purposes.

Prop. 18 -- Murder: Special Circumstances Provides special circumstances warranting death penalty or life without parole exist for intentional murders committed in connection with kidnapping or arson or committed by a "means of" rather than "while" lying in wait.

Prop. 19 -- Murder: BART and CSU Peace Officers Provides murder of peace officers employed by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District or the California State University System is punishable by life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Prop. 20 -- California State Lottery:  Instructional Materials Provides one-half of any increase beyond the current amount allocated to public education from state lottery revenues be earmarked for purchase of instructional materials. 

Prop. 21 -- Juvenile Crime
Increases punishment for gang-related felonies, home-invasion robbery, carjacking, witness intimidation and drive-by shootings and creates crime of recruiting for gang activities. 

Prop. 22 -- Limit on Marriages
Adds a provision to the Family Code providing that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Prop. 23 -- "None of the Above" Ballot Option
Provides that voters may vote for "none of the above," but such votes will not be counted in determining who wins election.

Prop. 25 -- Election Campaigns: Contributions, Spending Limits, Public Financing and Disclosures
Provides public financing of candidate and ballot measure campaign costs, disclosure of top contributors and fund-raising time restrictions; establishes contribution, spending limits; and bans corporate contributions. 

Prop. 26 -- School Facilities: Local Majority Vote, Bonds and Taxes.
Authorizes local voter approval by majority vote, not two-thirds, for school construction and improvement bonds and property taxes in excess of one percent to pay bonds. 

Prop. 27 -- Term Limit Declarations
Permits congressional candidates to voluntarily sign non-binding declaration of intention to serve no more than three terms in House of Representatives or two terms in the United States Senate. 

Prop. 28 -- Repeal of Proposition 10 Tobacco Surtax
Repeals additional $.50 per pack tax on cigarettes and equivalent increase in state tax on tobacco products previously enacted by Proposition 10. 

Prop. 29 -- 1998 Indian Gaming
"Yes" vote approves, a "No" vote rejects a 1998 law, which authorized certain tribal-state gaming compacts, provided procedures for future negotiations with tribes and designated the Governor to negotiate with tribes. 

Prop. 30 -- Insurance Claims Practices and Civil Remedies
"Yes" vote approves, "No" vote rejects legislation restoring right to sue another person's insurer for unfair claims settlement practices following judgment or award against other person. 

Prop. 31 -- Insurance Claims Practices and Civil Remedy Amendments
A "Yes" vote approves, a "No" vote rejects statutory amendments limiting right of injured party to sue another's insurer for unfair claims practices and exempting specified insurers under certain circumstances.

Sources: Official Sample Ballot and Voter Information Primary Election March 7 2000 from the office of the Los Angeles County Registrar; California Secretary of State's Vote 2000 Primary Election Voter Information Guide Web site