BILL NUMBER: SB 350 CHAPTERED 10/10/99 CHAPTER 791 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 10, 1999 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 7, 1999 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 10, 1999 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 8, 1999 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 7, 1999 INTRODUCED BY Senator Murray FEBRUARY 10, 1999 An act to amend Sections 6020, 6022, 6023, 6041, 6042, 6081, 6084, 6086, 6101, 6122, 6160, 6201, 6202, 6203, 6204, and 7441 of, and to repeal Section 6221 of, the Elections Code, relating to elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 350, Murray. Presidential primary delegates and alternates. Existing law required delegates and alternates for the Democratic presidential primary in 1992 to be selected by caucuses at specified times and dates and in a specified manner, in coordination with the presidential primary. Existing law directs that the presidential primary be held on the first Tuesday in March in any year evenly divisible by the number 4, including, for example, the year 2000. This bill would require that delegates and alternates for the Democratic presidential preference primary be selected by caucuses in specified numbers and at specified times and dates and in a specified manner, in coordination with the date established for the presidential primary. The bill would establish Tuesday, March 7, 2000, as the date for the next presidential preference primary. Under existing law, the Secretary of State is required to issue a certification of delegate to each person selected as a delegate or an alternate delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention. The delegates certified are required to be the final delegates as filed and determined by the official canvass. This bill would repeal those provisions. Under existing provisions of law relating to the selection of officers of the state Republican Party, at the party's first organizational meeting, a committee is required to organize by selecting a chairperson, a secretary, and any other officers and committees as it deems necessary for carrying on the affairs of this party. After each election, an organizational or reorganizational meeting is required to take place within 30 days after new county central committee members receive certificates of election. This bill would revise these procedures with respect to the Central Committee of the County of Orange to require its members to assume office and hold an organizational meeting on the first Monday in December of each even-numbered year. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 6020 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6020. (a) The Chairperson of the Democratic State Central Committee shall notify the Secretary of State on or before the 120th day preceding the presidential primary as to the number of delegates and alternates to represent the state in the next national convention of the Democratic Party. (b) The chairperson shall also notify the Secretary of State at the time prescribed in subdivision (a) as to the number of delegates that may be selected from each congressional district in connection with the presidential primary. The number of delegates that may be selected from each congressional district shall be based on a formula that apportions 75 percent of the state's base delegation allocated by the Democratic National Committee, among the congressional districts in a manner that gives equal weight to the vote for the Democratic candidates in the most recent presidential and gubernatorial elections. The number of delegates allocated to each congressional district shall be rounded off to the nearest whole integer. The remaining delegates and alternates shall be selected pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 6200). (c) Delegates and alternate delegates apportioned to each congressional district shall be selected based on the proportion of the vote a presidential candidate or uncommitted delegation receives within the congressional district pursuant to Section 6200. SEC. 2. Section 6022 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6022. The proportions of alternate delegates elected at the district level, at-large, and as unpledged and pledged add-on party and elected officials alternates shall be the same as the proportions of delegates elected in those categories. Members of Congress serving as unpledged delegates shall not be entitled to name a replacement. SEC. 3. Section 6023 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6023. The notification of the number of delegates and alternate delegates shall be in substantially the following form: Statement of Number of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to Democratic National Convention and of Number of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to Be Selected from Congressional Districts To the Secretary of State Sacramento, California You are hereby notified that the number of delegates and alternate delegates to represent the State of California in the next national convention of the Democratic Party is ____. You are hereby notified that the number of delegates which may be selected from all congressional districts as a part of the delegation to the national convention of the Democratic Party is as follows: Congressional District No. 1. __ delegates __ alternates. Congressional District No. 2. __ delegates __ alternates. Congressional District No. 3. __ delegates __ alternates. (Followed by the remaining congressional districts). You are hereby notified that the number of pledged party and elected official delegates, at-large delegates, and at-large alternate delegates is as follows: Unpledged Party Leaders and Elected Officials ___ Unpledged Add-on Delegates ____ Pledged Party and Elected Official Delegates ____ At-large Delegates ________________ At-large Alternate Delegates ___________ Dated this ____ day of ____, 19_. _______________________________________________ Chairperson of the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party. SEC. 4. Section 6041 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6041. The Secretary of State shall place the name of a candidate upon the presidential primary ballot when he or she has determined that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. The Secretary of State shall include as criteria for selecting candidates the fact of qualifying for funding under the Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1974, as amended. Between the 150th day and the 63rd day preceding a presidential primary election, the Secretary of State shall publicly announce and distribute to the news media for publication a list of the selected candidates that he or she intends to place on the ballot at the following presidential primary election. After the 63rd day preceding a presidential primary election, the Secretary of State may add candidates to the selection, but he or she may not delete any presidential candidate whose name appears on the announced list except as provided in Section 6043. SEC. 5. Section 6042 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6042. When the Secretary of State decides to place the name of a candidate on the ballot pursuant to Section 6041, he or she shall notify the candidate that the candidate's name will appear on the ballot of this state in the presidential primary election. The secretary shall also notify the candidate that the candidate may withdraw his or her name from the list of recognized candidates by filing with the Secretary of State an affidavit pursuant to Section 6043 no later than the 60th day before the presidential primary election. SEC. 6. Section 6081 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6081. The chairperson of a steering committee, at least 82 days prior to the presidential primary, shall file with the Secretary of State a statement containing the names and addresses of the members of the steering committee. SEC. 7. Section 6084 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6084. On or before the 56th day preceding the presidential primary, the Democratic State Central Committee shall transmit to the steering committee of each presidential candidate and uncommitted delegation a list of all persons who have filed a declaration of candidacy for delegate pledged to that presidential candidate or uncommitted delegation. SEC. 8. Section 6086 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6086. On the 44th day preceding the presidential primary election, at 3 p.m., the caucus chairperson in each congressional district shall convene a caucus for the purpose of electing potential delegates and alternate delegates. The steering committee of each candidate or uncommitted delegation shall have sole authority to establish rules and procedures, including the naming of caucus chairpersons, by which the caucuses of that candidate or uncommitted delegation shall be conducted. The rules and procedures shall be uniform statewide, and in compliance with the Democratic State Central Committee's delegate selection and affirmative action plan. Each caucus shall elect a slate of delegate nominees in each congressional district pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 6020), ranked in the manner specified by this section. The slate shall be transmitted to the steering committee of each candidate and uncommitted delegation. Each participant at each caucus shall reside in, and be a registered Democrat of, the congressional district of the caucus he or she attends and each shall sign a statement of support for that presidential candidate or uncommitted delegation. Within five days after the convening of the caucus, the steering committee of each candidate or uncommitted delegation shall rank the delegate candidates from the slate of delegate candidates provided by each caucus pursuant to procedures in compliance with the Democratic State Central Committee's delegate selection and affirmative action plan. Immediately thereafter, the chairperson of a steering committee shall file with the Secretary of State a statement containing the names of delegate candidates in ranked order from each congressional district. In all cases, the slate for each congressional district shall be equal to the number of delegates and alternate delegates allotted to each congressional district pursuant to Section 6023. SEC. 9. Section 6101 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6101. Nomination papers to be circulated pursuant to Section 6061 shall be prepared, circulated, signed, and verified and shall be left for examination with the county elections official of the county in which they are circulated at least 63 days prior to the presidential primary election. SEC. 10. Section 6122 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6122. Circulators may obtain signatures to the nomination paper for which they were appointed at any time between the period of 120 days and 63 days, inclusive, prior to the presidential primary election. SEC. 11. Section 6160 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6160. At least 60 days before a presidential primary, the Secretary of State shall notify each steering committee whether or not it has qualified a candidate or uncommitted delegation for placement on the ballot pursuant to Section 6060. SEC. 12. Section 6201 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6201. (a) District level delegate positions shall be allocated to presidential preferences through a primary proportional representation system. (b) The 239 district-level delegates and 40 alternates shall be elected by preprimary caucuses to slate delegates followed by a presidential preference primary. (1) The preprimary caucuses shall be conducted on Sunday, January 23, 2000, at 3 p.m. (2) The presidential preference primary shall be conducted on Tuesday, March 7, 2000. (c) The 239 delegates and 40 alternates shall be apportioned to districts as follows: ___________________________________________________________________ 'District ' Delegates ' Alternates ' ' '__________________________'_____________________________' ' ' Females ' Males ' Total ' Females ' Males ' Total ' '________ '_________'_______ '______ '________ '________ '________ ' ' #1 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #2 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #3 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #4 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #5 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #6 ' 3 ' 3 ' 6 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #7 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #8 ' 3 ' 3 ' 6 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #9 ' 3 ' 3 ' 6 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #10 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #11 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #12 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #13 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #14 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #15 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #16 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #17 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #18 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #19 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #20 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #21 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #22 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #23 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #24 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #25 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #26 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #27 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #28 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #29 ' 3 ' 3 ' 6 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #30 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #31 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #32 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #33 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #34 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #35 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #36 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #37 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #38 ' 2 ' 3 ' 5 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #39 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #40 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #41 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #42 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #43 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #44 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #45 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #46 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #47 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #48 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 0 ' 0 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #49 ' 3 ' 2 ' 5 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #50 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' ' #51 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 1 ' 0 ' 1 ' '________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________' ' #52 ' 2 ' 2 ' 4 ' 0 ' 1 ' 1 ' '_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________' This apportionment shall be based on a formula giving equal weight to the vote for the Democratic candidates in the most recent presidential and gubernatorial elections. (d) (1) An individual may qualify as a candidate for district-level delegate or alternate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention by filing a statement of candidacy and pledge of support with the state chair at the party office at 911 20th Street, Sacramento, California 95814. Statements can be requested from the state party beginning Tuesday, November 9, 1999. Candidacy statements can be returned beginning Tuesday, December 14, 1999, and must be received by the party office no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, January 6, 2000. (2) All delegate candidates shall be identified as to presidential preference, uncommitted or unpledged status at all levels which determine presidential preference. (e) The California primary election is a "binding" primary. Accordingly, delegate and alternate positions shall be allocated so as to fairly reflect the expressed presidential or uncommitted status of the primary voters in each district. Therefore, the national convention delegates elected at the district level shall be allocated in proportion to the percentage of the primary vote won in that district by each preference, except that preferences falling below a 15 percent threshold shall not be awarded any delegates or alternates. (f) If no presidential preference reaches a 15 percent threshold, the threshold shall be the percentage of the vote received at each level of the delegate selection process by the front-runner minus 10 percent. (g) Presidential candidates shall certify their authorized representatives to the state party chair no later than 5 p.m., December 16, 1999. The state party chair shall convey to the presidential candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or representatives, not later than Tuesday, January 11, 2000, at 5 p.m., a list of all persons who have filed for delegate or alternate pledged to that presidential candidate. Each presidential candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or representatives, shall file with the state party chair by Tuesday, January 18, 2000, at 5 p.m., a list of all the candidates he or she has approved, provided that approval is given to at least three times the number of candidates for delegate and three times the number of candidates for alternates to be selected. Failure to respond shall be deemed approval of all delegate and alternate candidates submitted to the presidential candidate unless the presidential candidate, or the candidate's authorized representative or representatives, signifies otherwise in writing to the state party chair no later than Tuesday, January 18, 2000, at 5 p.m. (h) On Sunday, January 23, 2000, candidate and uncommitted caucuses shall be held to elect a slate of potential delegates equal to at least the number of delegates plus alternates allocated to the congressional district. The California delegation shall be equally divided between delegate men and delegate women, and alternate men and alternate women. These goals apply to the California delegation as a whole. Delegates and alternates shall be considered separate groups for purposes of achieving equal division. Provisions for achieving equal division at the district level shall be as follows: Each candidate and uncommitted caucus shall elect a slate of potential delegates equal to at least the number of delegates plus alternates allocated to that congressional district. Potential delegates shall be ranked pursuant to procedures in compliance with the Democratic State Central Committee's delegate selection and affirmative action plan. Following the primary, delegate and alternate positions allocated to a presidential candidate or uncommitted delegation shall be filled from the list of ranked potential delegates in the order in which they are ranked. (i) The State Democratic Chair shall certify in writing to the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) the election of the state's district level delegates and alternates to the Democratic National Convention within three days after their election. SEC. 13. Section 6202 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6202. (a) The following individuals shall constitute the unpledged delegate positions: (1) Members of the DNC who legally reside in the state. (2) The Governor if he or she is a Democrat. (3) All Democratic Members of Congress who legally reside in the state. (4) All "distinguished party leader" delegates who legally reside in the state. (5) Five add-on delegates. (b) The procedures to be used in selecting the five add-on unpledged delegates shall be as follows: (1) The add-on delegates shall be nominated by the state party chair and elected at the meeting of district level delegates on Saturday, April 8, 2000. These delegates shall be selected after the election of district-level delegates and alternates, and prior to the selection of the pledged party and elected official delegates. (2) The equal division and affirmative action provisions of Rule 9A of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2000 Democratic National Convention apply to the selection of these add-on unpledged delegates. (3) The list from which the selecting body chooses the add-on unpledged delegates shall, at a minimum, contain two names for every unpledged add-on position to be filled. (c) The process for certification of the unpledged party leader and elected official delegates is as follows: (1) Not later than March 1, 2000, the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee shall officially confirm to the State Democratic Chair the names of the unpledged delegates who legally reside in California. (2) Official confirmation by the Secretary shall constitute verification of the unpledged delegates from the categories indicated above. (3) Add-on unpledged delegates, selected pursuant to the Call for the 2000 Democratic National Convention, shall be certified in writing to the Secretary of the DNC within three days after their selection. SEC. 14. Section 6203 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6203. (a) California is allotted 48 pledged party leader and elected official delegates. (b) Individuals shall be eligible for the pledged party leader and elected official delegate positions according to the following priority: big city mayors and statewide elected officials (to be given equal consideration), state legislative leaders, state legislators, and other state, county, and local elected officials and party leaders. (c) These delegates shall be selected by a committee consisting of all the district-level delegates. (d) Selection of these delegates shall occur on Sunday, April 9, 2000, at a site and time to be determined by the state party chair. The selection of these delegates shall be after the election of district delegates and alternates and the unpledged add-on delegates and prior to the selection of at-large delegates and alternates. (e) An individual may qualify as a candidate for a position as a pledged party leader and elected official delegate by filing a statement of candidacy and pledge of support with the state party chair that includes all the provisions included in the statement of candidacy and pledge of support required of district-level candidates. An individual may or may not previously have filed a statement of candidacy and still be eligible to file under this category. Statements shall be available at the state party beginning December 28, 1999. Statements shall be accepted beginning January 10, 2000, and ending March 9, 2000, at 5 p.m. (f) These pledged party leader and elected official slots shall be allocated among presidential preferences on the same basis as the at-large delegates. (g) Delegate candidates shall be identified as to presidential or uncommitted status at the pledged party and elected official level. If persons eligible for pledged party and elected official delegate positions have not made known their presidential preference as candidates for district level or at-large delegate positions, their preference shall be ascertained through the aforementioned required qualification statement. (h) The state party chair shall convey to the presidential candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or representatives, not later than March 15, 2000, a list of all persons who have filed for a party and elected official delegate pledged to that presidential candidate. Each presidential candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or representatives, shall then file with the state party chair, by March 21, 2000, a list of all the candidates he or she has approved, provided that approval is given to at least two times the number of candidates for delegate to be selected. Failure to respond shall be deemed approval of all delegate candidates submitted to the presidential candidate unless the presidential candidate, or the candidate's authorized representative or representatives, signifies otherwise in writing to the state party chair no later than 5 p.m. on March 21, 2000. (i) Alternates are not selected at the pledged party leader and elected official level. These alternates are combined with the at-large alternates and selected as one unit. (j) The state party chair shall certify in writing to the Secretary of the DNC the election of the state's pledged party leader and elected official delegates and alternates to the Democratic National Convention within three days after their election. SEC. 15. Section 6204 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 6204. (a) The State of California is allotted 80 at-large delegates and 21 at-large alternates. (b) These delegates and alternates shall be selected by a committee consisting of all the district-level delegates on Sunday, April 9, 2000. The selection shall occur after all unpledged delegates and pledged party leader and elected official delegates have been selected. (c) At-large delegate and alternate positions shall be allocated among presidential preferences according to the statewide primary vote. Preferences which have not attained a 15 percent threshold on a statewide basis shall not be entitled to any at-large delegates. If a given presidential preference is entitled to one or more delegate positions but would not otherwise be entitled to an alternate position, that preference shall be allotted one at-large alternate position. (d) In the selection of the at-large delegation, priority of consideration shall be given to African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, lesbian women, gay men, the disabled, and women. The election of at-large delegates and alternates shall be used, if necessary, to achieve the equal division of positions between men and women, and may be used to achieve the representation goals established in the affirmative action section of this plan. Delegates and alternates are to be considered separate groups for this purpose. (e) Persons desiring to seek these at-large delegate or alternate positions may file a statement of candidacy designating their presidential or uncommitted preference and a signed pledge of support for the presidential candidates (including uncommitted status) with the state party by 5 p.m., March 21, 2000. The state party chair shall convey to the presidential candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or representatives, not later than March 28, 2000, a list of all persons who have filed for delegate or alternate pledged to that presidential candidate. Each presidential candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or representatives, at the meeting of the district-level delegates on April 9, 2000, must provide to the State Democratic Chair, within 30 minutes after the pledged party leaders and elected officials have been selected by the committee of district-level delegates, a list of all the candidates he or she has approved, provided that, at a minimum, two names remain for every national convention delegate or alternate position to which the presidential candidate is entitled. (f) The statement of candidacy for at-large delegates and for at-large alternates shall be the same. After the at-large delegates are elected by the district level delegates, those persons not chosen shall then be considered candidates for at-large alternate positions unless they specify otherwise when filing. (g) If a presidential candidate is no longer a candidate at the time of selection of the at-large delegates, those at-large slots that would have been allocated to the candidate shall be proportionally divided among the remaining preferences entitled to an allocation. (h) The state party chair shall certify in writing to the Secretary of the DNC the election of the state's at-large delegates and alternates to the Democratic National Convention within three days after their election. SEC. 16. Section 6221 of the Elections Code is repealed. SEC. 17. Section 7441 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 7441. At the first organizational meeting, a committee shall organize by selecting a chairperson, a secretary, and any other officers and committees as it deems necessary for carrying on the affairs of this party. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), after each election, an organizational or reorganizational meeting shall take place within 30 days after new county central committee members receive certificates of election. (b) Members of the Central Committee of the County of Orange shall assume office and hold an organizational meeting on the first Monday in December of each even-numbered year. SEC. 18. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order that this bill may take effect as soon as possible in order to facilitate preparation for the March 7, 2000, state primary election, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.