The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of political campaigns, lobbying, and other matters relating to governmental ethics and elections.

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to amend the act.

Date of Hearing: May 9, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING

Marc Berman, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2559 (

Author:Ting) – As Amended Ver:March 15, 2018

SUBJECT: Elections: Democratic Party county central committee.

SUMMARY: Requires, when a county central committee for the Democratic Party of California fills a vacancy by appointment, that the required notices of the appointment include the telephone number of the person who was appointed to fill the vacancy.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires the Legislature to provide for partisan elections for political party central committees.
2. Provides that members of a county central committee for the Democratic Party of California may be elected in each county at every presidential primary election.
3. Provides that when a vacancy occurs on a county central committee for the Democratic Party of California, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the committee in which the vacancy occurs. Requires the chairperson of the county central committee, when the committee fills a vacancy by appointment, to file notices of the appointment with the elections official and with the chairperson of the state central committee within 30 days. Requires the notices to contain the name and address of the person appointed and the name of the person replaced, and to indicate the date of appointment.

FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose of the Bill: According to the author:

County central committees are important institutions within the democratic process. In San Francisco, the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) serves as the governing body of the local Democratic Party and is comprised of local Democrats elected by voters in each Assembly District, as well as elected officials who serve as Ex-Officio Officers. Because the DCCC is responsible for registering and educating voters, protecting the right to vote, and working to elect candidates who represent the values of the party, it is critical that committee membership is transparent and accessible. AB 2559 will further these good government goals by requiring more complete information about new San Francisco DCCC appointees to be shared with the local elections official and the state central committee chair.

1. County Central Committees: Notwithstanding the fact that political party central committee members are not public officials, political party central committees are bodies that are recognized in the state constitution, and the constitution explicitly requires the Legislature to provide for partisan elections for those offices. Specifically, Proposition 14, which was approved by the voters on the June 2010 statewide primary election ballot, is best known as the measure that implemented a top two primary election system in California for most elective state and federal offices. However, in addition to establishing the top two primary system, Proposition 14 also amended Article II, Section 5 of the California Constitution to provide that "[t]he Legislature shall provide for partisan elections for…party central committees."
   
   Accordingly, state law allows political parties to choose to have their central committee members elected at statewide presidential primary elections, or a political party can choose to select county central committee members by holding a caucus or convention, or any other method of selection approved by the committee.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file.

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Ethan Jones / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094