California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Panel Urges Lawmaker Vote on Initiatives

A prestigious commission called for significant changes in the initiative process, recommending that the Legislature vote on proposed ballot measures before they are placed on the ballot. If lawmakers approve them, such measures would become law without being on the ballot. Those measures rejected by the Legislature would go on the statewide ballot. The commission, headed by former Legislative Analyst A. Alan Post, also recommended that lawmakers be free to make changes to the proposed initiatives, as long as the proponents agree. Initiatives would still have to qualify by signature petitions as they do now. Assemblyman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) said he intends to put the recommendations into the form of bills to be considered by the Legislature this year.