News Room: AB 2760: Catastrophic Events: Expedited Elections

When hundreds of local residents gathered at the Hillview soccer field this September 11th, it was a reminder that what was once unimaginable is now something we must not only consider, but plan for. We know now that the United States is not impervious to attack. And we must now ask ourselves some difficult questions. Among those questions: How would our federal government function in the aftermath of a direct attack on Washington D.C. by terrorists or an enemy power? How would we have responded if Flight 93 had crashed into the Capitol building in Washington D.C.? How could we quickly reconstitute Congress if a significant number of its members were killed or incapacitated? read more ...

Sacramento – If highjacked Flight 93 had reached the U.S. Capitol building last September and killed a substantial portion of Congress, it would have taken about 6-7 months to conduct the elections necessary to restore that body to full strength. Now, however, Assembly Bill 2760, authored by Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and signed by the Governor, will provide California with an expedited elections process for members of the House of Representatives. Simitian’s bill provides for expedited elections if 25% of the United States House of Representatives or the California delegation is killed, missing, or disabled. read more ...

Sacramento – Prior to the Governor’s signing of Assemblyman Joe Simitian’s (D-Palo Alto) AB 2760, it would take about six months to fill a vacated seat in the House of Representatives, even if the vacancy was created by a catastrophic event (e.g, a terrorist act or act of war) that resulted in the death of many members. Now, in such a circumstance, it will take only two months. read more ...