SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- An initiative for a constitutional amendment that would reinstate marriage for same-sex couples in California has moved forward, KSBW-TV in Monterey reported.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced Friday the proponent who wrote the petition that repeals the current ban on same-sex marriage can start collecting signatures.

Charles Lowe, the author of the amendment that calls for marriage equality, must collect 694,354 signatures from registered voters for the measure to make the ballot.

Proposition 8 was a ban on same-sex marriage in California that was passed by voters in November.

The marriage equality initiative does not mandate, or require, any clergy of any church "to perform a service or duty inconsistent with his or her faith." The initiative also does not want to modify or change any school curriculum.

Lowe has 150 days to circulate petitions for the measure, which means his deadline is Aug. 17.

It is the second initiative proposed that repeals the ban on same-sex marriage to enter circulation in California.

On March 10, Bowen announced that a measure replacing the term "marriage" with "domestic partnership" throughout California law, but preserve the rights provided in marriage had entered circulation.