BILL NUMBER: AB 609AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 13, 2015 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Cristina Garcia FEBRUARY 24, 2015 An act to add Section 8020.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 609, as amended, Cristina Garcia. Members of the Legislature: residency. The California Constitution requires that a person reside within the legislative district for which he or she seeks election as a Member of the Legislature for one year immediately preceding the election. This bill would permit a candidate for Member of the Legislature to file a statement with the Secretary of State in which the candidate voluntarily agrees that, if elected, he or she will continue to reside within the district from which he or she was elected during his or her term of office. The bill wouldrequireauthorize the Secretary of State todesignate in the state ballot pamphlet those candidates who have voluntarily agreed to this continuing residency requirement.post on his or her Internet Web site voluntary statements of continuing residency filed with the secretary, as described above . Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, in order to ensure that Members of the Legislature adequately and effectively represent their constituents, those elected to the Legislature should continue to reside in the districts that they are elected to represent during their terms of office. SEC. 2. Section 8020.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read: 8020.5. (a) A candidate for Member of the Legislature may file a statement with the Secretary of State in which the candidate voluntarily agrees that, if elected, he or she will continue to reside within the district from which he or she was elected during his or her term of office. A person does not violate the voluntary agreement if, after being elected for a term of office, the boundaries of the district from which he or she was elected are changed during that term of office so as to exclude his or her residence from the district. (b) If a candidate for Member of the Legislature elects to file the voluntary statement of continuing residency pursuant to subdivision (a), the statement shall be filed with his or her nomination documents. (c) The Secretary of Stateshall designate in the state ballot pamphlet those candidates for Member of the Legislature who have voluntarily agreed to the continuing residency requirement set forth in this section.may post on his or her Internet Web site voluntary statements of continuing residency filed pursuant to subdivision (a).