PROSPECTUS DECEMBER 2, 1996
GENERAL CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUND
GENERAL CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUND (THE "FUND") IS AN
OPEN-END, NON-DIVERSIFIED, MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY, KNOWN AS A MONEY
MARKET MUTUAL FUND. THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO MAXIMIZE CURRENT
INCOME EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA INCOME TAXES TO THE EXTENT
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESERVATION OF CAPITAL AND THE MAINTENANCE OF LIQUIDITY.
YOU CAN INVEST, REINVEST OR REDEEM SHARES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT CHARGE
OR PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE FUND.
THE DREYFUS CORPORATION PROFESSIONALLY MANAGES THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO.
THE FUND'S SHARES MAY BE PURCHASED ONLY BY CLIENTS OF SERVICE AGENTS
AS DESCRIBED HEREIN. BY THIS PROSPECTUS, THE FUND IS OFFERING CLASS A AND
CLASS B SHARES. CLASS A SHARES AND CLASS B SHARES ARE IDENTICAL, EXCEPT AS TO
THE SERVICES OFFERED TO AND THE EXPENSES BORNE BY EACH CLASS.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NEITHER INSURED NOR GUARANTEED BY THE
U.S. GOVERNMENT. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE FUND WILL BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN A STABLE NET ASSET VALUE OF $1.00 PER SHARE. SINCE THE FUND MAY
INVEST A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF ITS ASSETS IN A SINGLE ISSUER, AN
INVESTMENT IN THE FUND MAY INVOLVE GREATER RISK THAN INVESTMENTS IN CERTAIN
OTHER TYPES OF MONEY MARKET FUNDS.
THIS PROSPECTUS SETS FORTH CONCISELY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND THAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. IT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED DECEMBER 2, 1996,
WHICH MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF
CERTAIN AREAS IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST
TO SOME INVESTORS. IT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION AND IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION MAINTAINS A WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV) THAT CONTAINS
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE,
AND OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND. FOR A FREE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WRITE TO THE FUND AT 144 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD,
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11556-0144, OR CALL 1-800-645-6561. WHEN TELEPHONING, ASK
FOR OPERATOR 144.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER
AGENCY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES.............. 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION ............ 4
YIELD INFORMATION........................... 5
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND..................... 6
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND...................... 9
HOW TO BUY SHARES........................... 10
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES........................ 12
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES........................ 14
DISTRIBUTION PLAN........................... 17
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLANS.................. 17
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES.......... 17
GENERAL INFORMATION......................... 19
APPENDIX.................................... 20
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Page 2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
CLASS A CLASS B
SHARES SHARES
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Management Fees..................................................... .50% .50%
12b-1 Fees.......................................................... None .20%
Other Expenses...................................................... .15% .30%
Total Fund Operating Expenses....................................... .65% 1.00%
EXAMPLE:
You would pay the following
expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
(1) 5% annual return and (2) redemption at
the end of each time period:
1 Year $ 7 $ 10
3 Years $21 $ 32
5 Years $36 $ 55
10 Years $81 $122
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS
REPRESENTATIVE OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER
OR LESS THAN THOSE INDICATED. MOREOVER, WHILE THE EXAMPLE ASSUMES A 5% ANNUAL
RETURN, THE FUND'S ACTUAL PERFORMANCE WILL VARY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACTUAL
RETURN GREATER OR LESS THAN 5%.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of the foregoing table is to assist you in understanding
the costs and expenses borne by the Fund, the payment of which will reduce
investors' annual return. Other Expenses for Class B shares reflect an
undertaking by The Dreyfus Corporation to reimburse the Fund for expenses
under the Fund's Shareholder Services Plan with respect to Class B if the
annual fund operating expenses for Class B exceed 1% of the average net
assets for Class B for the fiscal year ending July 31, 1997. The expenses
noted above for Class B, without reimbursement, would have been: Other
Expenses -- .38% and Total Fund Operating Expenses -- 1.08%. Certain Service
Agents (as defined below) may charge their clients direct fees for effecting
transactions in Fund shares; such fees are not reflected in the foregoing
table. See "Management of the Fund," "How to Buy Shares," "Distribution Plan"
and "Shareholder Services Plans."
Page 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, the Fund's independent auditors, whose report thereon appears in
the Statement of Additional Information. Further financial data and related
notes are included in the Statement of Additional Information, available upon
request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a Class A
and Class B share of beneficial interest outstanding, total investment
return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for each
year indicated. This information has been derived from the Fund's financial
statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A SHARES
YEAR ENDED JULY 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987(1) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value,
beginning of year $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Investment income--net ...... .016 .045 .053 .058 .052 .036 .024 .023 .031 .029
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment
income--net (.016) (.045) (.053) (.058) (.052) (.036) (.024) (.023) (.031) (.029)
Net asset value,
end of year... $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN....... 4.16%(2) 4.62% 5.46% 5.93% 5.29% 3.65% 2.46% 2.27% 3.14% 2.94%
RATIOS / SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets .-- .50% .76% .07% .02% .20% .33% .33% .52% .65%
Ratio of net investment
income to
average net assets... 4.06%(2) 4.48% 5.29% 5.78% 5.08% 3.59% 2.43% 2.24% 3.07% 2.91%
Decrease reflected in
above expense ratios
due to undertakings by
The Dreyfus Corporation
(limited to the
expense limitation
provision of the
Management Agreement) 1.50%(2) .21% .-- .65% .59% .41% .30% .28% .11% .--
Net Assets, end of year
(000's Omitted) $32,328 $109,037 $77,372 $281,909 $538,978 $549,383 $608,534 $699,105 $463,404 $390,155
(1)From March 10, 1987 (commencement of operations) to July 31, 1987.
(2) Annualized.
</TABLE>
Page 4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B SHARES
YEAR ENDED JULY 31,
--------------------
<S> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA: 1996(1)
-------
Net asset value, beginning of year............................... $1.00
-------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income-net............................................ .025
-------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment income - net........................... (.025)
-------
Net asset value, end of year..................................... $1.00
=======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN.......................................... 2.56%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to average net assets.......................... 1.00%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets............. 2.45%
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to
undertakings by The Dreyfus Corporation ......................... .08%
Net Assets, end of year (000's omitted).......................... $5,475
(1) From August 1, 1995 (commencement of initial offering) to July 31, 1996.
</TABLE>
YIELD INFORMATION
From time to time, the Fund advertises its yield and effective yield.
Both yield figures are based on historical earnings and are not intended to
indicate future performance. It can be expected that these yields will
fluctuate substantially. The yield of the Fund refers to the income generated
by an investment in the Fund over a seven-day period (which period will be
stated in the advertisement). This income is then annualized. That is, the
amount of income generated by the investment during that week is assumed to
be generated each week over a 52-week period and is shown as a percentage of
the investment. The effective yield is calculated similarly, but, when
annualized, the income earned by an investment in the Fund is assumed to be
reinvested. The effective yield will be slightly higher than the yield
because of the compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment. The Fund's
yield and effective yield may reflect absorbed expenses pursuant to any
undertaking that may be in effect. See "Management of the Fund."
Tax equivalent yield is calculated by determining the pre-tax yield
which, after being taxed at a stated rate, would be equivalent to a stated
yield or effective yield calculated as described above.
Yield information is useful in reviewing the Fund's performance, but
because yields will fluctuate, such information under certain conditions may
not provide a basis for comparison with domestic bank deposits, other
investments which pay a fixed yield for a stated period of time, or other
investment companies which may use a different method of computing yield.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., Bank Rate Monitortrademark, N. Palm Beach, Fla.
33408, IBC's Money Fund Reporttrademark, Morningstar, Inc. and other industry
publications.
Page 5
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
GENERAL
By this Prospectus, two classes of shares of the Fund are being
offered_Class A shares and Class B shares (each such class being referred to
as a "Class"). The Classes are identical, except for the services offered to
and expenses borne by each Class. Class B shares bear certain costs pursuant
to a distribution plan adopted by the Fund's Board. See "Distribution Plan"
and "Shareholder Services Plans." In addition, Class B shares are charged
directly for sub-accounting services provided by Service Agents at the annual
rate of .05% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B. The
sub-accounting fee paid by Class B, together with amounts payable pursuant to
the Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan, will cause Class B to
have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends than Class A. You
should consult your Service Agent to determine which Class is offered by the
Service Agent.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund's investment objective is to maximize current income exempt
from Federal and State of California income taxes to the extent consistent
with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity. To
accomplish its investment objective, the Fund invests primarily in debt
securities of the State of California, its political subdivisions,
authorities and corporations, the interest from which is, in the opinion of
bond counsel to the issuer, exempt from Federal and State of California
personal income taxes (collectively, "California Municipal Obligations"). To
the extent acceptable California Municipal Obligations are at any time
unavailable for investment by the Fund, the Fund will invest temporarily in
other debt securities the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond
counsel to the issuer, exempt from Federal, but not State of California,
income tax. The Fund's investment objective cannot be changed without
approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") of the Fund's outstanding voting
shares. There can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objective will
be achieved. Securities in which the Fund will invest may not earn as high a
level of current income as long-term or lower quality securities which
generally have less liquidity, greater market risk and more fluctuation in
market value.
MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS
Debt securities the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond
counsel to the issuer, exempt from Federal income tax ("Municipal
Obligations") generally include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for
various public purposes as well as certain industrial development bonds
issued by or on behalf of public authorities. Municipal Obligations are
classified as general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and notes. General
obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and
taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are
payable from the revenue derived from a particular facility or class of
facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other
specific revenue source, but not from the general taxing power. Tax exempt
industrial development bonds, in most cases, are revenue bonds that generally
do not carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality, but
generally are guaranteed by the corporate entity on whose behalf they are
issued. Notes are short-term instruments which are obligations of the issuing
municipalities or agencies and are sold in anticipation of a bond sale,
collection of taxes or receipt of other revenues. Municipal Obligations
include municipal lease/purchase agreements which are similar to installment
purchase contracts for property or equipment issued by municipalities.
Municipal Obligations bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest.
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
It is a fundamental policy of the Fund that it will invest at least
80% of the value of its net assets (except when maintaining a temporary
defensive position) in Municipal Obligations. Under normal circumstances, at
least 65% of the value of the Fund's net assets will be invested in
California Municipal Obligations and the remainder may be invested in
securities that are not California Municipal
Page 6
Obligations and therefore may be subject to California income taxes.
See "Investment Considerations and Risks_Investing in California Municipal
Obligations" below, and "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes." The Fund
also may invest in taxable investments of the quality described under
"Appendix -- Certain Portfolio Securities -- Taxable Investments."
The Fund seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share for
purchases and redemptions. To do so, the Fund uses the amortized cost method
of valuing its securities pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, which
Rule includes various maturity, quality and diversification requirements,
certain of which are summarized as follows. In accordance with Rule 2a-7, the
Fund is required to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of
90 days or less, purchase only instruments having remaining maturities of 13
months or less and invest only in U.S. dollar denominated securities
determined in accordance with procedures established by the Fund's Board to
present minimal credit risks and which are rated in one of the two highest
rating categories for debt obligations by at least two nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations (or one rating organization if the
instrument was rated only by one such organization) or, if unrated, are of
comparable quality as determined in accordance with procedures established by
the Fund's Board. The nationally recognized statistical rating organizations
currently rating investments of the type the Fund may purchase are Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P")
and Fitch Investors Service, L.P. ("Fitch") and their rating criteria are
described in "Appendix B" to the Statement of Additional Information. For
further information regarding the amortized cost method of valuing
securities, see "Determination of Net Asset Value" in the Statement of
Additional Information. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able
to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share.
From time to time, the Fund may invest more than 25% of the value of
its total assets in industrial development bonds which, although issued by
industrial development authorities, may be backed only by the assets and
revenues of the non-governmental users. Interest on Municipal Obligations
(including certain industrial development bonds) which are specified private
activity bonds, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), issued after August 7, 1986, while exempt from Federal income
tax, is a preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. Where
a regulated investment company receives such interest, a proportionate share
of any exempt-interest dividend paid by the investment company may be treated
as such a preference item to shareholders. The Fund may invest without
limitation in such Municipal Obligations if The Dreyfus Corporation
determines that their purchase is consistent with the Fund's investment
objective. See "Investment Considerations and Risks" below.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS
GENERAL -- Even though interest-bearing securities are investments which
promise a stable stream of income, the prices of such securities are
inversely affected by changes in interest rates and, therefore, are subject
to the risk of market price fluctuations. The value of fixed-income
securities also may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial
condition of the issuing entities.
INVESTING IN CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS -- Since the Fund is
concentrated in securities issued by California or entities within
California, an investment in the Fund may involve greater risk than
investments in certain other types of money market funds. You should consider
carefully the special risks inherent in the Fund's investment in California
Municipal Obligations. These risks result from certain amendments to the
California Constitution and other statutes that limit the taxing and spending
authority of California governmental entities, as well as from the general
financial condition of the State of California. From mid-1990 to late 1993,
the State suffered a recession with the worst economic, fiscal and budget
conditions since the 1930s. At June 30, 1994, according to California's Depart
ment of Finance, the State's Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties had an
accumulated deficit, on a budget basis, of approximately $1.8 billion. A
further consequence of the large budget imbalances over the last three fiscal
years has been that the State depleted its available cash resources and has
had to use a series
Page 7
of external borrowings to meet its cash needs. To meet its cash flow
needs in the 1994-95 fiscal year, the State issued, in July and
August 1994, $4.0 billion of revenue anticipation warrants and $3.0 billion
of revenue anticipation notes. The 1994-95 Budget Act contained a plan to
retire a projected $1.025 billion deficit in the 1995-96 fiscal year. As a
result of the deterioration in the State's budget and cash situation, between
October 1991 and July 1994 the ratings on the State's general obligation
bonds were reduced by S&P from AAA to A, by Moody's from Aaa to A1 and by
Fitch from AAA to A. These and other factors may have the effect of impairing
the ability of the issuers of California Municipal Obligations to pay
interest on, or repay the principal of, such California Municipal
Obligations. You should obtain and review a copy of the Statement of
Additional Information which more fully sets forth these and other risk
factors.
INVESTING IN MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS -- The Fund may invest more than 25% of
the value of its total assets in Municipal Obligations which are related in
such a way that an economic, business or political development or change
affecting one such security also would affect the other securities; for
example, securities for which the interest is paid from revenues of similar
types of projects. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater risk as
compared to a fund that does not follow this practice.
Certain municipal lease/purchase obligations in which the Fund may
invest may contain "non-appropriation" clauses which provide that the
municipality has no obligation to make lease payments in future years unless
money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although
"non-appropriation" lease/purchase obligations are secured by the leased
property, disposition of the leased property in the event of foreclosure
might prove difficult. In evaluating the credit quality of a municipal
lease/purchase obligation that is unrated, The Dreyfus Corporation will
consider, on an ongoing basis, a number of factors including the likelihood
that the issuing municipality will discontinue appropriating funding for the
leased property.
Certain provisions in the Code relating to the issuance of Municipal
Obligations may reduce the volume of Municipal Obligations qualifying for
Federal tax exemption. One effect of these provisions could be to increase
the cost of the Municipal Obligations available for purchase by the Fund and
thus reduce available yield. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers
concerning the effect of these provisions on an investment in the Fund.
Proposals that may restrict or eliminate the income tax exemption for
interest on Municipal Obligations may be introduced in the future. If any
such proposal were enacted that would reduce the availability of Municipal
Obligations for investment by the Fund so as to adversely affect Fund
shareholders, the Fund would reevaluate its investment objective and policies
and submit possible changes in the Fund's structure to shareholders for their
consideration. If legislation were enacted that would treat a type of
Municipal Obligation as taxable, the Fund would treat such security as a
permissible Taxable Investment within the applicable limits set forth herein.
NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS -- The classification of the Fund as a
"non-diversified" investment company means that the proportion of the Fund's
assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer is not
limited by the 1940 Act. A "diversified" investment company is required by
the 1940 Act generally, with respect to 75% of its total assets, to invest
not more than 5% of such assets in the securities of a single issuer. Since a
relatively high percentage of the Fund's assets may be invested in the
obligations of a limited number of issuers, the Fund's portfolio may be more
sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer. However, to meet
Federal tax requirements, at the close of each quarter the Fund may not have
more than 25% of its total assets invested in any one issuer and, with
respect to 50% of total assets, not more than 5% of its total assets invested
in any one issuer. These limitations do not apply to U.S. Government
securities.
SIMULTANEOUS INVESTMENTS -- Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of other investment companies advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation. If, however, such other investment companies desire to invest
in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, available investments or
opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each investment
company. In some cases, this pro-
Page 8
cedure may adversely affect the size of the position obtained for or disposed
of by the Fund or the price paid or received by the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISER -- The Dreyfus Corporation, located at 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166, was formed in 1947 and serves as the Fund's
investment adviser. The Dreyfus Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Mellon Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank
Corporation ("Mellon"). As of September 30, 1996, The Dreyfus Corporation
managed or administered approximately $81 billion in assets for more than 1.7
million investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall
management of the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the Fund,
subject to the authority of the Fund's Board in accordance with Massachusetts
law.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international
markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in
the United States based on total assets. Mellon's principal wholly-owned
subsidiaries are Mellon Bank, N.A., Mellon Bank (DE) National Association,
Mellon Bank (MD), The Boston Company, Inc., AFCO Credit Corporation and a
number of companies known as Mellon Financial Services Corporations. Through
its subsidiaries, including The Dreyfus Corporation, Mellon managed more than
$226 billion in assets as of September 30, 1996, including approximately $85
billion in proprietary mutual fund assets. As of September 30, 1996, Mellon,
through various subsidiaries, provided non-investment services, such as
custodial or administration services, for more than $905 billion in assets,
including approximately $60 billion in mutual fund assets.
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, the Fund paid The Dreyfus
Corporation a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .50 of 1% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. From time to time, The Dreyfus
Corporation may waive receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume certain
expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the expense
ratio of the Fund and increasing yield to investors. The Fund will not pay
The Dreyfus Corporation at a later time for any amounts it may waive, nor
will the Fund reimburse The Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may
assume.
In allocating brokerage transactions, The Dreyfus Corporation seeks
to obtain the best execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
Subject to this determination, The Dreyfus Corporation may consider, among
other things, the receipt of research services and/or the sale of shares of
the Fund or other funds managed, advised or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation as factors in the selection of broker-dealers to execute
portfolio transactions for the Fund. See "Portfolio Transactions" in the State
ment of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation may pay the Fund's distributor for
shareholder services from The Dreyfus Corporation's own assets, including
past profits but not including the management fee paid by the Fund. The
Fund's distributor may use part or all of such payments to pay Service Agents
in respect of these services.
DISTRIBUTOR -- The Fund's distributor is Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
(the "Distributor"), located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The Distributor's ultimate parent is Boston Institutional Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN -- Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
Disbursing Agent (the "Transfer Agent"). The Bank of New York, 90 Washington
Street, New York, New York 10286, is the Fund's Custodian.
Page 9
HOW TO BUY SHARES
Fund shares may be purchased only by clients of certain financial
institutions (which may include banks), securities dealers ("Selected
Dealers"), and other industry professionals such as investment advisers,
accountants and estate planning firms (collectively, "Service Agents") that
have entered into service agreements with the Distributor. For shareholders
who purchased Fund shares from the Distributor, the Distributor will act as
Service Agent. Share certificates are issued only upon your written request.
No certificates are issued for fractional shares. It is not recommended that
the Fund be used as a vehicle for Keogh, IRA or other qualified plans. The
Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a
client of a Service Agent which has made an aggregate minimum initial
purchase for its customers of $2,500. Subsequent investments must be at least
$100. The initial investment must be accompanied by the Account Application.
For full-time or part-time employees of The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its
affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of The Dreyfus Corporation, Board
members of a fund advised by The Dreyfus Corporation, including members of
the Fund's Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of the foregoing, the
minimum initial investment is $1,000. For full-time or part-time employees of
The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to
have a portion of their pay directly deposited into their Fund account, the
minimum initial investment is $50. The Fund reserves the right to vary
further the initial and subsequent investment minimum requirements at any
time.
You may purchase Fund shares by check or wire or through the
TELETRANSFER privilege described below. Checks should be made payable to "The
Dreyfus Family of Funds." Payments to open new accounts which are mailed
should be sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9387, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-9387, together with your Account Application indicating
which Class of shares is being purchased. For subsequent investments, your
Fund account number should appear on the check and an investment slip should
be enclosed and sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 105, Newark,
New Jersey 07101-0105. Neither initial nor subsequent investments should be
made by third party check. Purchase orders may be delivered in person only to
the Dreyfus Financial Center located in the lobby of 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York. THESE ORDERS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND AND WILL BE
PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY.
Wire payments may be made if your bank account is in a commercial
bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System or any other bank having
a correspondent bank in New York City. Immediately available funds may be
transmitted by wire to The Bank of New York, DDA #8900052163/General
California Municipal Money Market Fund, for purchase of Class A or Class B
shares in your name. The wire must include your Fund account number (for new
accounts, your Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") should be included
instead), account registration and dealer number, if applicable, and indicate
the Class of shares being purchased. If your initial purchase of Fund shares
is by wire, please call 1-800-645-6561 after completing your wire payment to
obtain your Fund account number. Please include your Fund account number on
the Account Application and promptly mail the Account Application to the
Fund, as no redemptions will be permitted until the Account Application is
received. You may obtain further information about remitting funds in this
manner from your bank. All payments should be made in U.S. dollars and, to
avoid fees and delays, should be drawn only on U.S. banks. A charge will be
imposed if any check used for investment in your account does not clear. The
Fund makes available to certain large institutions the ability to issue
purchase instructions through compatible computer facilities.
Fund shares also may be purchased through Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
BuilderRegistration Mark, the Government Direct Deposit Privilege and Payroll
Savings Plan described under "Shareholder Services." These services enable
you to make regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a
convenient way to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware,
however, that periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will
not protect an investor against loss in a declining market.
Page 10
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic transfer of
funds from an account maintained in a bank or other domestic financial
institution that is an Automated Clearing House member. You must direct the
institution to transmit immediately available funds through the Automated
Clearing House to The Bank of New York with instructions to credit your Fund
account. The instructions must specify your Fund account registration and
your Fund account number PRECEDED BY THE DIGITS "1111."
Management understands that some Service Agents may impose certain
conditions on their clients which are different from those described in this
Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authority,
may charge their clients direct fees for servicing. These fees would be in
addition to any amounts which might be received under the Fund's Distribution
Plan. Service Agents may receive different levels of compensation for selling
different Classes of shares. You should consult your Service Agent in this
regard.
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per
share next determined after an order in proper form and Federal Funds (monies
of member banks within the Federal Reserve System which are held on deposit
at a Federal Reserve Bank) are received by the Transfer Agent or other agent
or entity subject to the direction of such agents. If you do not remit
Federal Funds, your payment must be converted into Federal Funds. This
usually occurs within one business day of receipt of a bank wire and within
two business days of receipt of a check drawn on a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System. Checks drawn on banks which are not members of the Federal
Reserve System may take considerably longer to convert into Federal Funds.
Prior to receipt of Federal Funds, your money will not be invested.
The Fund's net asset value per share is determined twice each day the
New York Stock Exchange is open for business: as of 12:00 Noon, New York
time, and as of 8:00 p.m., New York time. Net asset value per share of each
Class is computed by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets represented
by such Class (i.e., the value of its assets less liabilities) by the total
number of shares of such Class outstanding. See "Determination of Net Asset
Value" in the Statement of Additional Information.
If your payments are received in or converted into Federal Funds by
12:00 Noon, New York time, on a business day, you will receive the dividend
declared that day. If your payments are received in or converted into Federal
Funds after 12:00 Noon, New York time, you will begin to accrue dividends on
the following business day.
Qualified institutions may telephone orders for purchase of the
Fund's shares. A telephone order will become effective at the price
determined at 12:00 Noon, New York time, on a given day, and the shares
purchased will receive the dividend on Fund shares declared on that day, if
the telephone order is placed to the Distributor or its designee by 12:00
Noon, New York time, and Federal Funds are received by 4:00 p.m., New York
time, on that day. A telephone order placed to the Distributor or its
designee after 12:00 Noon, New York time, but by 8:00 p.m., New York time, on
a given day will become effective at the price determined at 8:00 p.m., New
York time, on that day if Federal Funds are received by 11:00 a.m., New York
time, on the next business day. The shares so purchased will begin to accrue
dividends on the business day following the date the order became effective.
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN upon
opening or reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and
the Account Application for further information concerning this requirement.
Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE -- You may purchase shares (minimum $500, maximum
$150,000 per day) by telephone if you have checked the appropriate box and
supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have filed a
Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be
transferred between the bank account designated in one of these documents and
your Fund account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated
Page 11
Clearing House member may be so designated. The Fund may modify or terminate
this Privilege at any time or charge a service fee upon notice to
shareholders. No such fee currently is contemplated.
If you have selected the TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may request a
TELETRANSFER purchase of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561 or, if you are
calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The services and privileges described under this heading may not be
available to clients of certain Service Agents and some Service Agents may
impose certain conditions on their clients which are different from those
described in this Prospectus. You should consult your Service Agent in this
regard. In addition, use of the privileges noted below may require that the
proper forms and information be filed with and processed by the Transfer
Agent.
FUND EXCHANGES -- Clients of certain Service Agents may purchase, in exchange
for shares of the Fund, shares of certain other funds managed or administered
by The Dreyfus Corporation, to the extent such shares are offered for sale in
your state of residence. These funds have different investment objectives
which may be of interest to you. If you desire to use this service, you
should consult your Service Agent or call 1-800-645-6561 to determine if it
is available and whether any conditions are imposed on its use.
To request an exchange, you or your Service Agent acting on your
behalf must give exchange instructions to the Transfer Agent in writing or by
telephone. Before any exchange, you must obtain and should review a copy of
the current prospectus of the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Prospectuses may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. Except in the case of
personal retirement plans, the shares being exchanged must have a current
value of at least $500; furthermore, when establishing a new account by
exchange, the shares being exchanged must have a value of at least the
minimum initial investment required for the fund into which the exchange is
being made. The ability to issue exchange instructions by telephone is given
to all Fund shareholders automatically, unless you check the applicable "No"
box on the Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this
Privilege. The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be established for an
existing account by written request, signed by all shareholders on the
account, by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form available by calling
1-800-645-6561, or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on
the account, by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have established the Telephone
Exchange Privilege, you may telephone exchange instructions (including over
The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark Automated Telephone System) by calling
1-800-645-6561. If you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. See "How
to Redeem Shares_Procedures." Upon an exchange into a new account, the
following shareholder services and privileges, as applicable and where
available, will be automatically carried over to the fund into which the
exchange is made: Telephone Exchange Privilege, Check Redemption Privilege,
Wire Redemption Privilege, Telephone Redemption Privilege, TELETRANSFER
Privilege, and the dividend/capital gain distribution option (except for
Dividend Sweep) selected by the investor.
Shares will be exchanged at the next determined net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds
sold with a sales load. If you are exchanging into a fund that charges a
sales load, you may qualify for share prices which do not include the sales
load or which reflect a reduced sales load, if the shares you are exchanging
were: (a) purchased with a sales load, (b) acquired by a previous exchange
from shares purchased with a sales load, or (c) acquired through reinvestment
of dividends or distributions paid with respect to the foregoing categories
of shares. To qualify, at the time of the exchange you must notify the
Transfer Agent or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor. Any such
qualification is subject to confirmation of your holdings through a check of
appropriate records. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. No fees currently are charged shareholders directly
in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves the right, upon not
less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders a nominal
administrative fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Fund reserves the right to reject any
Page 12
exchange request in whole or in part. The availability of Fund Exchanges may
be modified or terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE -- Auto-Exchange Privilege enables you to invest
regularly (on a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in
exchange for shares of the Fund, in shares of other funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder. The amount you designate,
which can be expressed either in terms of a specific dollar or share amount
($100 minimum), will be exchanged automatically on the first and/or fifteenth
of the month according to the schedule you have selected. Shares will be
exchanged at the then-current net asset value; however, a sales load may be
charged with respect to exchanges into funds sold with a sales load. See
"Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional Information. The right
to exercise this Privilege may be modified or cancelled by the Fund or the
Transfer Agent. You may modify or cancel your exercise of this Privilege at
any time by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O.
Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. The Fund may charge a service
fee for the use of this Privilege. No such fee currently is contemplated. For
more information concerning this Privilege and the funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds eligible to participate in this Privilege, or to obtain an
Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDERRegistration Mark -- Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of
$150,000 per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares
are purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
At your option, the bank account designated by you will be debited in the
specified amount, and Fund shares will be purchased, once a month, on either
the first or fifteenth day, or twice a month, on both days. Only an account
maintained at a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing
House member may be so designated. To establish an Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder account, you must file an authorization form with the Transfer Agent.
You may obtain the necessary authorization form from your Service Agent or by
calling 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel your participation in this Privilege
or change the amount of purchase at any time by mailing written notification
to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island
02940-9671, and the notification will be effective three business days
following receipt. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any
time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
GOVERNMENT DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIVILEGE -- Government Direct Deposit Privilege
enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $50,000
per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social Security, or certain
veterans', military or other payments from the Federal government
automatically deposited into your Fund account. You may deposit as much of
such payments as you elect. To enroll in Government Direct Deposit, you must
file with the Transfer Agent a completed Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form for each
type of payment that you desire to include in the Privilege. The appropriate
form may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. Death or legal incapacity will
terminate your participation in the Privilege. You may elect at any time to
terminate your participation by notifying in writing the appropriate Federal
agency. Further, the Fund may terminate your participation upon 30 days'
notice to you.
PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN -- Payroll Savings Plan permits you to purchase Fund
shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a regular basis.
Depending upon your employer's direct deposit program, you may have part or
all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus account
electronically through the Automated Clearing House system at each pay
period. To establish a Payroll Savings Plan account, you must file an
authorization form with your employer's payroll department. Your employer
must complete the reverse side of the form and return it to The Dreyfus
Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. You may
obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561. You may
change the amount of purchase or cancel the authorization
Page 13
only by written notification to your employer. It is the sole responsibility
of your employer, not the Distributor, The Dreyfus Corporation, the Fund, the
Transfer Agent or any other person, to arrange for transactions under the
Payroll Savings Plan. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any
time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
DIVIDEND OPTIONS -- Dividend Sweep enables you to invest automatically
dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, paid by the
Fund in shares of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you
are a shareholder. Shares of the other fund will be purchased at the
then-current net asset value; however, a sales load may be charged with
respect to investments in shares of a fund sold with a sales load. If you are
investing in a fund that charges a sales load, you may qualify for share
prices which do not include the sales load or which reflect a reduced sales
load. If you are investing in a fund that charges a contingent deferred sales
charge, the shares purchased will be subject to the contingent deferred sales
charge, if any, applicable to the purchased shares. See "Shareholder
Services" in the Statement of Additional Information. Dividend ACH permits
you to transfer electronically dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions, if any, from the Fund to a designated bank account. Only an
account maintained at a domestic financial institution which is an Automated
Clearing House member may be so designated. Banks may charge a fee for this
service.
For more information concerning these privileges or to request a
Dividend Options Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel
these privileges by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. To select a new
fund after cancellation, you must submit a new Dividend Options Form.
Enrollment in or cancellation of these privileges is effective three business
days following receipt. These privileges are available only for existing
accounts and may not be used to open new accounts. Minimum subsequent
investments do not apply for Dividend Sweep. The Fund may modify or terminate
these privileges at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently
is contemplated.
QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION PLAN -- The Quarterly Distribution Plan permits you to
receive quarterly payments from the Fund consisting of proceeds from the
redemption of shares purchased for your account through the automatic
reinvestment of dividends declared on your account during the preceding
calendar quarter. To open a Quarterly Distribution Plan, contact the Transfer
Agent. The Plan may be ended at any time by you, the Fund or the Transfer
Agent. Shares for which certificates have been issued must be presented
before redemption under the Plan.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN -- The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to
request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a
monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. An
application for the Automatic Withdrawal Plan can be obtained by calling
1-800-645-6561. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be ended at any time by
you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which share certificates have
been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
GENERAL
You may request redemption of your shares at any time. Redemption
requests should be transmitted to the Transfer Agent as described below. When
a request is received in proper form, the Fund will redeem the shares at the
next determined net asset value.
The Fund imposes no charges when shares are redeemed. Service Agents
may charge their clients a nominal fee for effecting redemptions of Fund
shares. Any certificates representing Fund shares being redeemed must be
submitted with the redemption request. The value of the shares redeemed may
be more or less than their original cost, depending upon the Fund's
then-current net asset value.
The Fund ordinarily will make payment for all shares redeemed within
seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in
proper form, except as provided by the rules of the
Page 14
Securities and Exchange Commission. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FUND
SHARES BY CHECK, BY TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE OR THROUGH DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET
BUILDERRegistration Mark AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST
TO THE TRANSFER AGENT, YOUR REDEMPTION WILL BE EFFECTIVE AND THE REDEMPTION
PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY UPON BANK CLEARANCE OF YOUR
PURCHASE CHECK, TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER
ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS OR MORE. IN ADDITION, THE FUND
WILL NOT HONOR REDEMPTION CHECKS UNDER THE CHECK REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE, AND
WILL REJECT REQUESTS TO REDEEM SHARES BY WIRE OR TELEPHONE OR PURSUANT TO THE
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE, FOR A PERIOD OF EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY
THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE PURCHASE CHECK, THE TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR THE
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER ORDER AGAINST WHICH SUCH REDEMPTION IS
REQUESTED. THESE PROCEDURES WILL NOT APPLY IF YOUR SHARES WERE PURCHASED BY
WIRE PAYMENT, OR IF YOU OTHERWISE HAVE A SUFFICIENT COLLECTED BALANCE IN YOUR
ACCOUNT TO COVER THE REDEMPTION REQUEST. PRIOR TO THE TIME ANY REDEMPTION IS
EFFECTIVE, DIVIDENDS ON SUCH SHARES WILL ACCRUE AND BE PAYABLE, AND YOU WILL
BE ENTITLED TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. Fund shares
will not be redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account
Application.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at its option upon
not less than 30 days' written notice if your account's net asset value is
$500 or less and remains so during the notice period.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem shares by using the regular redemption procedure
through the Transfer Agent, or, if you have checked the appropriate box and
supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have filed a
Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent, through the Check
Redemption Privilege, the Wire Redemption Privilege, the Telephone Redemption
Privilege or the TELETRANSFER Privilege. If you are a client of a Selected
Dealer, you may redeem Fund shares through the Selected Dealer. If you have
given your Service Agent authority to instruct the Transfer Agent to redeem
shares and to credit the proceeds of such redemptions to a designated account
at your Service Agent, you may redeem shares only in this manner and in
accordance with the regular redemption procedure described below. If you wish
to use the other redemption methods described below, you must arrange with
your Service Agent for delivery of the required application(s) to the
Transfer Agent. Other redemption procedures may be in effect for clients of
certain Service Agents. The Fund makes available to certain large
institutions the ability to issue redemption instructions through compatible
computer facilities. The Fund reserves the right to refuse any request made by
wire or telephone, including requests made shortly after a change of address,
and may limit the amount involved or the number of such requests. The Fund
may modify or terminate any redemption Privilege at any time or charge a
service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee currently is
contemplated. Shares for which certificates have been issued are not eligible
for the Check Redemption, Wire Redemption, Telephone Redemption or
TELETRANSFER Privilege.
You may redeem shares by telephone if you have checked the
appropriate box on the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder
Services Form with the Transfer Agent. If you select a telephone redemption
privilege or telephone exchange privilege (which is granted automatically
unless you refuse it), you authorize the Transfer Agent to act on telephone
instructions (including over The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark Automated
Telephone System) from any person representing himself or herself to be you,
or a representative of your Service Agent, and reasonably believed by the
Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to
employ reasonable procedures, such as requiring a form of personal
identification, to confirm that instructions are genuine and, if it does not
follow such procedures, the Fund or the Transfer Agent may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor
the Transfer Agent will be liable for following telephone instructions
reasonably believed to be genuine.
Page 15
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you may
experience difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone to
request a redemption or exchange of Fund shares. In such cases, you should
consider using the other redemption procedures described herein. Use of these
other redemption procedures may result in your redemption request being
processed at a later time than it would have been if telephone redemption had
been used.
REGULAR REDEMPTION -- Under the regular redemption procedure, you may redeem
shares by written request mailed to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. Redemption requests may be
delivered in person only to the Dreyfus Financial Center located in the lobby
of 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York. THESE REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO
THE FUND AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. Redemption requests
must be signed by each shareholder, including each owner of a joint account,
and each signature must be guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted
standards and procedures pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper
form generally will be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit
unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations,
clearing agencies and savings associations, as well as from participants in
the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities
Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP"), and the Stock Exchanges
Medallion Program. If you have any questions with respect to
signature-guarantees, please call one of the telephone numbers listed under
"General Information."
Redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 will be wired to any member
bank of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with a written
signature-guaranteed request.
CHECK REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE -- You may write Redemption Checks drawn on your
Fund account. Redemption Checks may be made payable to the order of any
person in the amount of $500 or more. Redemption Checks should not be used to
close your account. Redemption Checks are free, but the Transfer Agent will
impose a fee for stopping payment of a Redemption Check upon your request or
if the Transfer Agent cannot honor the Redemption Check because of
insufficient funds or other valid reason. You should date your Redemption
Checks with the current date when you write them. Please do not postdate your
Redemption Checks. If you do, the Transfer Agent will honor, upon
presentment, even if presented before the date of the check, all postdated
Redemption Checks which are dated within six months of presentment for
payment, if they are otherwise in good order.
WIRE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE -- You may request by wire or telephone that
redemption proceeds (minimum $1,000) be wired to your account at a bank which
is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or a correspondent bank if your
bank is not a member. You also may direct that redemption proceeds be paid by
check (maximum $150,000 per day) made out to the owners of record and mailed
to your address. Redemption proceeds of less than $1,000 will be paid
automatically by check. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts
may have redemption proceeds of not more than $250,000 wired within any
30-day period. You may telephone redemption requests by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Statement of Additional Information sets forth instructions for transmitting
redemption requests by wire.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE -- You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (maximum $150,000 per day) be paid by check and mailed to
your address. You may telephone redemption instructions by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE -- You may request by telephone that redemption
proceeds (minimum $500 per day) be transferred between your Fund account and
your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be designated.
Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an Automated
Clearing House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt of the
redemption request, or at your request, paid by check (maximum $150,000 per
day) and mailed to your address. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank
accounts
Page 16
may redeem through the TELETRANSFER Privilege for transfer to their bank
account not more than $250,000 within any 30-day period.
If you have selected the TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may request a
TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561 or, if you are
calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
REDEMPTION THROUGH A SELECTED DEALER -- If you are a customer of a Selected
Dealer, you may make redemption requests to your Selected Dealer. If the
Selected Dealer transmits the redemption request so that it is received by
12:00 Noon, New York time, the proceeds of the redemption ordinarily will be
transmitted in Federal Funds on the same day and the shares will not receive
the dividend declared on that day. If the redemption request is received
after such time, but by 8:00 p.m., New York time, the redemption request
will be effective on that day, the shares will receive the dividend declared
on that day and the proceeds of redemption ordinarily will be transmitted in
Federal Funds on the next business day. If a redemption request is received
after 8:00 p.m. New York time, the redemption request will be effective on
the next business day. It is the responsibility of the Selected Dealer to
transmit a request so that it is received in a timely manner. The proceeds
of the redemption are credited to your account with the Selected Dealer. See
"How to Buy Shares" for a discussion of additional conditions or fees that
may be imposed upon redemption.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
(CLASS B ONLY)
Under the Distribution Plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
1940 Act, the Fund directly bears, with respect to Class B, the costs of
preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of
additional information and of implementing and operating the Distribution
Plan. In addition, the Fund reimburses the Distributor for payments made to
third parties for distributing (within the meaning of Rule 12b-1) Class B
shares at an aggregate annual rate of up to .20 of 1% of the value of the
average daily net assets of Class B.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLANS
CLASS A -- The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan with respect to
Class A pursuant to which the Fund reimburses Dreyfus Service Corporation, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, an amount not to exceed
an annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of
Class A for certain allocated expenses of providing personal services and/or
maintaining shareholder accounts. The services provided may include personal
services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder
inquiries regarding the Fund and providing reports and other information, and
services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
CLASS B -- The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan with respect to
Class B pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor for the provision of
certain services to the holders of Class B shares a fee at the annual rate of
.25 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B. The
services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder
accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the Fund and
providing reports and other information, and services related to the
maintenance of such shareholder accounts. Under the Shareholder Services Plan,
the Distributor may make payments to Service Agents in respect of these
services. The Distributor determines the amounts to be paid to Service Agents.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund ordinarily declares dividends from its net investment income
on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Dividends
usually are paid on the last calendar day of each month, and are
automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares at net asset value or, at
your option, paid in cash. The Fund's earnings for Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays are declared as dividends on the preceding business day. If you
redeem all shares in your account at any time during the month, all dividends
to
Page 17
which you are entitled will be paid to you along with the proceeds of the
redemption. If you are an omnibus accountholder and indicate in a partial
redemption request that a portion of any accrued dividends to which such
account is entitled belongs to an underlying accountholder who has redeemed
all shares in his or her account, such portion of the accrued dividends will
be paid to you along with the proceeds of the redemption. Distributions from
net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a
year, but the Fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply
with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner
consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund will not make
distributions from net realized securities gains unless capital loss
carryovers, if any, have been utilized or have expired. You may choose whether
to receive distributions in cash or to reinvest in additional Fund shares at
net asset value. All expenses are accrued daily and deducted before
declaration of dividends to investors. Dividends paid by each Class will be
calculated at the same time and in the same manner and will be of the same
amount, except that the expenses attributable solely to a Class will be borne
exclusively by such Class. Class B shares will receive lower per share
dividends than Class A shares because of the higher expenses borne by Class B.
See "Annual Fund Operating Expenses."
Except for dividends from Taxable Investments, the Fund anticipates
that substantially all dividends paid by the Fund will not be subject to
Federal or State of California personal income taxes. To the extent that you
are obligated to pay state or local taxes outside of the State of California,
dividends earned by an investment in the Fund may represent taxable income.
Dividends derived from Taxable Investments, together with distributions from
any net realized short-term securities gains and all or a portion of any
gains realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market discount
bonds, paid by the Fund are subject to Federal income tax as ordinary income
whether received in cash or reinvested. Distributions from net realized
long-term securities gains of the Fund generally are taxable as long-term
capital gains for Federal income tax purposes if you are a citizen or
resident of the United States. The Code provides that the net capital gain of
an individual generally will not be subject to Federal income tax at a rate
in excess of 28%. Under the Code, interest on indebtedness incurred or
continued to purchase or carry Fund shares which is deemed to relate to
exempt-interest dividends is not deductible. No dividend paid by the Fund
will qualify for the dividends received deduction allowable to certain U.S.
corporations.
Although all or a substantial portion of the dividends paid by the
Fund may be excluded by Fund shareholders from their gross income for Federal
income tax purposes, the Fund may purchase specified private activity bonds,
the interest from which may be (i) a preference item for purposes of the
alternative minimum tax, (ii) a component of the "adjusted current earnings"
preference item for purposes of the corporate alternative minimum tax as well
as a component in computing the corporate environmental tax or (iii) a factor
in determining the extent to which a shareholder's Social Security benefits
are taxable. If the Fund purchases such securities, the portion of the Fund's
dividends related thereto will not necessarily be tax exempt to an investor
who is subject to the alternative minimum tax and/or tax on Social Security
benefits and may cause an investor to be subject to such taxes.
Notice as to the tax status of your dividends and distributions will
be mailed to you annually. You also will receive periodic summaries of your
account which will include information as to dividends and distributions from
securities gains, if any, paid during the year. These statements set forth
the dollar amount of income exempt from Federal tax and the dollar amount, if
any, subject to Federal tax. These dollar amounts will vary depending on the
size and length of time of your investment in the Fund. If the Fund pays
dividends derived from taxable income, it intends to designate as taxable the
same percentage of the day's dividend as the actual taxable income earned on
that day bears to total income earned on that day. Thus, the percentage of
the dividend designated as taxable, if any, may vary from day to day.
The exchange of shares of one fund for shares of another is treated
for Federal income tax purposes as a sale of the shares given in exchange by
the shareholder and, therefore, an exchanging shareholder may realize a
taxable gain or loss.
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Federal regulations generally require the Fund to withhold ("backup
withholding") and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of taxable dividends and
distributions from net realized securities gains of the Fund paid to a
shareholder if such shareholder fails to certify either that the TIN
furnished in connection with opening an account is correct, or that such
shareholder has not received notice from the IRS of being subject to backup
withholding as a result of a failure to properly report taxable dividend or
interest income on a Federal income tax return. Furthermore, the IRS may
notify the Fund to institute backup withholding if the IRS determines a
shareholder's TIN is incorrect or if a shareholder has failed to properly
report taxable dividend and interest income on a Federal income tax return.
A TIN is either the Social Security number or employer identification
number of the record owner of the account. Any tax withheld as a result of
backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax imposed on the
record owner of the account, and may be claimed as a credit on the record
owner's Federal income tax return.
Management of the Fund believes that the Fund has qualified for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1996 as a "regulated investment company" under the
Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is in
the best interests of its shareholders. Such qualification relieves the Fund
of any liability for Federal income tax to the extent its earnings are
distributed in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code. The Fund is
subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax, measured with respect to certain
undistributed amounts of taxable investment income and capital gains.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as
to Federal, state or local taxes.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund was organized as an unincorporated business trust under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to an Agreement and
Declaration of Trust (the "Trust Agreement") dated September l9, 1986, and
commenced operations on March l0, 1987. Before March 19, 1990, the Fund's
name was General California Tax Exempt Money Market Fund. The Fund is
authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, par
value $.001 per share. The Fund's shares are classified into two classes --
Class A and Class B. Each share has one vote and shareholders will vote in
the aggregate and not by Class, except as otherwise required by law.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund.
However, the Trust Agreement disclaims shareholder liability for acts or
obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given
in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the
Fund or a Trustee. The Trust Agreement provides for indemnification from the
Fund's property for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally
liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder
incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to
circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations, a possibility which management believes is remote. Upon payment
of any liability incurred by the Fund, the shareholder paying such liability
will be entitled to reimbursement from the general assets of the Fund. The
Fund intends to conduct its operations in such a way so as to avoid, as far
as possible, ultimate liability of the shareholders for liabilities of the
Fund. As discussed under "Management of the Fund" in the Statement of
Additional Information, the Fund ordinarily will not hold shareholder
meetings; however, shareholders under certain circumstances may have the
right to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting to remove
Trustees.
The Transfer Agent maintains a record of your ownership and sends
confirmations and statements of account.
Shareholder inquiries may be made to your Service Agent or by writing
to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144,
or by calling toll free 1-800-645-6561; outside the U.S. and Canada, call
516-794-5452.
Page 19
APPENDIX
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
BORROWING MONEY -- The Fund may borrow money from banks, but only for
temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes in an amount up to 15% of
the value of the Fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued
at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount
borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. While borrowings exceed 5% of
the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments.
FORWARD COMMITMENTS -- The Fund may purchase Municipal Obligations and other
securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis, which means that
delivery and payment take place a number of days after the date of the
commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate
receivable on a forward commitment or when-issued security are fixed when the
Fund enters into the commitment, but the Fund does not make payment until it
receives delivery from the counterparty. The Fund will commit to purchase
such securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities,
but the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is
deemed advisable. A segregated account of the Fund consisting of permissible
liquid assets at least equal at all times to the amount of the commitments
will be established and maintained at the Fund's custodian bank.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
CERTAIN TAX EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS -- The Fund may purchase floating and variable
rate demand notes and bonds, which are tax exempt obligations ordinarily
having stated maturities in excess of 13 months, but which permit the holder
to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals not
exceeding 13 months, in each case upon not more than 30 days' notice.
Variable rate demand notes include master demand notes which are obligations
that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, at varying rates of
interest, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as lender, and
the borrower. These obligations permit daily changes in the amount borrowed.
Frequently, such obligations are secured by letters of credit or other credit
support arrangements provided by banks. Changes in the credit quality of
banks and other financial institutions that provide such credit or liquidity
enhancements to the Fund's portfolio securities could cause losses to the
Fund and affect its share price. Because these obligations are direct lending
arrangements between the lender and borrower, it is not contemplated that
such instruments generally will be traded, and there generally is no
established secondary market for these obligations, although they are
redeemable at face value plus accrued interest. Accordingly, where these
obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support
arrangements, the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the
borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. Each obligation purchased
by the Fund will meet the quality criteria established for the purchase of
Municipal Obligations.
TAX EXEMPT PARTICIPATION INTERESTS -- The Fund may purchase from financial
institutions participation interests in Municipal Obligations (such as
industrial development bonds and municipal lease/purchase agreements). A
participation interest gives the Fund an undivided interest in the Municipal
Obligation in the proportion that the Fund's participation interest bears to
the total principal amount of the Municipal Obligation. These instruments may
have fixed, floating or variable rates of interest, with remaining maturities
of 13 months or less. If the participation interest is unrated or has been
given a rating below that which otherwise is permissible for purchase by the
Fund, it will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a
bank that the Fund's Board has determined meets prescribed quality standards
for banks, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by U.S.
Government securities. For certain participation interests, the Fund will
have the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days' notice, for
all or any part of the Fund's participation interest in the Municipal
Page 20
Obligation, plus accrued interest. As to these instruments, the Fund intends
to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms
of the Municipal Obligation, as needed to provide liquidity to meet
redemptions, or to maintain or improve the quality of its investment
portfolio.
TENDER OPTION BONDS -- The Fund may purchase tender option bonds. A tender
option bond is a Municipal Obligation (generally held pursuant to a custodial
arrangement) having a relatively long maturity and bearing interest at a
fixed rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax exempt rates,
that has been coupled with the agreement of a third party, such as a bank,
broker-dealer or other financial institution, pursuant to which such
institution grants the security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to
tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value
thereof. As consideration for providing the option, the financial institution
receives periodic fees equal to the difference between the Municipal
Obligation's fixed coupon rate and the rate, as determined by a remarketing
or similar agent at or near the commencement of such period, that would cause
the securities, coupled with the tender option, to trade at par on the date
of such determination. Thus, after payment of this fee, the security holder
effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing
short-term tax exempt rate. The Dreyfus Corporation, on behalf of the Fund,
will consider on an ongoing basis the creditworthiness of the issuer of the
underlying Municipal Obligation, of any custodian and of the third party
provider of the tender option. In certain instances and for certain tender
option bonds, the option may be terminable in the event of a default in
payment of principal or interest on the underlying Municipal Obligations and
for other reasons.
STAND-BY COMMITMENTS -- The Fund may acquire "stand-by commitments" with
respect to Municipal Obligations held in its portfolio. Under a stand-by
commitment, the Fund obligates a broker, dealer or bank to repurchase, at the
Fund's option, specified securities at a specified price and, in this
respect, stand-by commitments are comparable to put options. The exercise of
a stand-by commitment, therefore, is subject to the ability of the seller to
make payment on demand. The Fund will acquire stand-by commitments solely to
facilitate portfolio liquidity and does not intend to exercise its rights
thereunder for trading purposes. The Fund may pay for stand-by commitments if
such action is deemed necessary, thus increasing to a degree the cost of the
underlying Municipal Obligation and similarly decreasing such security's
yield to investors. Gains realized in connection with stand-by commitments
will be taxable.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest up to 10% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective. Such securities may include securities that are not readily
marketable, such as certain securities that are subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale, and repurchase agreements providing for
settlement in more than seven days after notice. As to these securities, the
Fund is subject to a risk that should the Fund desire to sell them when a
ready buyer is not available at a price the Fund deems representative of
their value, the value of the Fund's net assets could be adversely affected.
TAXABLE INVESTMENTS -- From time to time, on a temporary basis other than for
temporary defensive purposes (but not to exceed 20% of the value of the
Fund's net assets) or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest
in taxable short-term investments ("Taxable Investments") consisting of:
notes of issuers having, at the time of purchase, a quality rating within the
two highest grades of Moody's, S&P or Fitch; obligations of the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper rated not
lower than P-2 by Moody's, A-2 by S&P or F-2 by Fitch; certificates of
deposit of U.S. domestic banks, including foreign branches of domestic banks,
with assets of one billion dollars or more; time deposits; bankers'
acceptances and other short-term bank obligations; and repurchase agreements
in respect of any of the foregoing. Dividends paid by the Fund that are
attributable to income earned by the Fund from Taxable Investments will be
taxable to investors. See "Dividends,
Page 21
Distributions and Taxes." Except for temporary defensive purposes, at no time
will more than 20% of the value of the Fund's net assets be invested in
Taxable Investments. If the Fund purchases Taxable Investments, it will value
them using the amortized cost method and comply with the provisions of Rule
2a-7 relating to purchases of taxable instruments. When the Fund has adopted
a temporary defensive position, including when acceptable California Municipal
Obligations are unavailable for investment by the Fund, in excess of 35% of
the Fund's net assets may be invested in securities that are not exempt from
California income tax. Under normal market conditions, the Fund anticipates
that not more than 5% of the value of its total assets will be invested in any
one category of Taxable Investments. Taxable Investments are more fully
described in the Statement of Additional Information, to which reference
hereby is made.
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE
FUND'S OFFICIAL SALES LITERATURE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OF THE FUND'S
SHARES, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM,
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
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Prospectus
General California
Municipal Money
Market Fund
(BAIRD LOGO)
Service Agent
573p120296RWB
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