BILL ANALYSIS AB 1689 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 14, 2010 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 1689 (Torres) - As Introduced: January 26, 2010 Policy Committee: ElectionsVote:7-0 (Consent) Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill aligns provisions of state law governing the selection of delegates and alternates to represent the state at a National Convention of the Democratic Party with the standing rules and bylaws of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). FISCAL EFFECT Negligible costs to the Secretary of State. COMMENTS Purpose . While political parties are treated as private organizations with their own governing bylaws, state law imposes some rules on parties, particularly in relation to the state's conduct of elections. The Alquist Open Presidential Primary Act provides specific procedures for the selection of delegates and alternates to represent the state at the national convention of the Democratic Party to nominate a candidate for President of the United States. This bill updates these statutes to conform to changes adopted by the DNC and California Democratic Party (CDP). The bill also makes changes to conform the Act to other portions of the Elections Code. Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081