Democratic Party: county central committees: appointment and election.

Existing law provides procedures for the election or appointment of members of county central committees of the Democratic Party. Existing law provides that a person is not eligible for appointment or election to a committee if the person is not registered as affiliated with the party at the time of the appointment or election. Existing law requires an elections official to attach a certificate to the declaration of candidacy for a person who seeks membership on a county central committee that certifies the person's eligibility for such membership. This bill would instead provide that a person is not eligible for election to a county central committee if the person's affidavit of registration does not state a political party preference for the Democratic party. The bill would make a person who is not a United States citizen, but who would be able to register to vote if the person were a United States citizen, eligible for election to a county central committee if the person meets all other specified eligibility requirements, the committee's bylaws permit such a person to be elected to the committee, the committee notifies the county elections official that its bylaws permit such a person to be elected, and the committee provides the county elections official with a copy of the eligibility requirements specified in its bylaws. The bill would require a candidate to complete a declaration of eligibility, which the county elections official would attach to the candidate's declaration of candidacy in lieu of the certificate described above. By increasing the duties of local elections officials relative to determining the eligibility of candidates for county central committees, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.