Cal. Government Code § 7924.105

As used in this article, “proponent of the petition” means the following: (a) For a statewide initiative or referendum measure, the person who submits a draft of a petition proposing the measure to the Attorney General with a request that the Attorney General prepare a title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure. (b) For other initiative and referendum measures, the person who publishes a notice of intention to circulate a petition, or, where publication is not required, who files the petition with an elections official. (c) For a recall measure, the person defined in Section 343 of the Elections Code. (d) For a petition circulated pursuant to Section 5091 of the Education Code, the person having charge of the petition who submits the petition to the county superintendent of schools. (e) For a petition circulated pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 35700) of Chapter 4 of Part 21 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code, the person designated as chief petitioner under Section 35701 of the Education Code. (f) For a petition circulated pursuant to Part 46 (commencing with Section 74000) of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, the person designated as chief petitioner under Section 74102, 74133, or 74152 of the Education Code.