Plain English Breakdown
The official text states no reimbursement is required for the face covering section, but does not specify if costs exist or why they are exempt.
AB-596: New Rules for Ballot Donor Information and Workplace Face Coverings
This law requires the names of top financial contributors to appear on statewide ballots starting in 2026 and makes permanent rules allowing employees to wear face coverings at work unless they create a safety hazard.
What This Bill Does
- Requires printing the three largest donors who gave $100,000 or more for circulating petitions directly on the ballot paper after supporter names.
- Allows voters to ask a court to fix errors in the list of top contributors printed on ballots.
- Sets rules for shortening long contributor names by removing specific words when space is limited on the ballot.
- Prohibits employers from stopping workers from wearing face coverings or respirators unless it causes a safety risk.
- Allows employers to ask people at work sites to briefly remove their masks only to verify their identity.
Who It Names or Affects
- Voters who receive ballots for statewide initiatives and referendums starting in 2026
- Employers and employees regarding the use of face coverings on job sites
- County elections officials responsible for printing ballots and reviewing petitions
Terms To Know
- Statewide initiative or referendum measure
- A proposed law placed on the ballot by citizens that applies to all voters in California.
- Writ of mandate
- A court order requiring a government official to perform a specific duty, such as correcting an error on a ballot.
- State-mandated local program
- New duties given by the state to county officials that may require the state to pay for extra costs.
Limits and Unknowns
- The ballot disclosure rules only apply to measures where the Attorney General delivers titles on or after January 1, 2026.
- It is not yet determined if the Commission on State Mandates will require state reimbursement for costs related to face covering enforcement.