WHAT IT DOES: Requires the California insurance commissioner to approve rates for certain types of health insurance, specifically individual and small group health plans. The rate-approval process would be similar to a process that is currently used for other types of insurance, such as automobile and homeowner's policies.

WHO SUPPORTS IT: Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica-based group founded attorney Harvey Rosenfield; California Democratic Party.

WHO OPPOSES IT: A coalition of doctors, hospitals and labor groups, with major funding from health plans that include the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., Wellpoint Inc. and Blue Shield of California; California Medical Association; California Hospital Association; California Chamber of Commerce; California Professional Firefighters; California Republican Party.

CAMPAIGN SPENDING: The groups supporting the rate regulation have raised at least $2 million through Sept. 22, while the groups opposing it have raised at least $37 million through the same period.