BILL NUMBER: AB 970	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Levine

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2007

   An act to add Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 20505) to
Division 20 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 970, as introduced, Levine. Election campaigns: candidates'
debates.
   Existing law encourages every candidate for public office in this
state to subscribe to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices, which
generally provides that a candidate will pledge to conduct his or her
campaign in accordance with the basic principles of decency,
honesty, and fair play in order that, after vigorously contested, but
fairly conducted campaigns, the citizens of this state may exercise
their constitutional right to vote, free from dishonest and unethical
practices which tend to prevent the full and free expression of the
will of the voters. The purpose of the Code of Fair Campaign
Practices is to give voters guidelines in determining fair play and
to encourage candidates to discuss issues instead of untruths or
distortions.
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to create the
California Gubernatorial Debate Commission for the purpose of
inviting candidates for Governor to a series of 3 debates in
specified locations and of establishing the rules and formats of each
debate, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 20505) is added to
Division 20 of the Elections Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 6.5.  CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE COMMISSION


   20505.  (a) The Secretary of State shall establish the California
Gubernatorial Debate Commission. The commission shall be responsible
for inviting candidates for Governor to a series of three debates and
for establishing the rules and formats of each debate. Each
candidate shall be notified of the rules and format at least 10
calendar days prior to each debate.
   (b) The commission shall hold a total of three debates prior to
each general election for the office of Governor as follows:
   (1) The first debate shall be held not less than 40 days nor more
than 55 days prior to the election.
   (2) The second debate shall be held not less than 21 days nor more
than 27 days prior to the election.
   (3) The third debate shall be held not less than four days nor
more than 10 days prior to the election.
   (c) The rules for each debate may vary, except that all debates
shall comply with all of the following conditions:
   (1) Each debate shall be held on a weekday between 6 p.m. and 8
p.m..
   (2) Each debate shall be at least 60 minutes long.
   (3) Each debate shall be in a location with enough space to seat
an audience of at least 100 members of the general public in addition
to credentialed media, campaign staff, and other invited guests.
   (d) One debate shall be held in Southern California, one in the
Central San Joaquin Valley of California, and one in Northern
California. The locations for the first, second, and third debate
shall rotate with each gubernatorial election.