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AB-27 California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.(2007-2008)

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Amended  IN  Assembly  January 17, 2008
Amended  IN  Assembly  January 07, 2008

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2007–2008 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 27

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Parra
 (Principal Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Arambula, Fuller, Galgiani, Nakanishi)
 (Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Caballero, Garcia, Price)

December 04, 2006

An act to add and repeal Chapter 12.9 (commencing with Section 7095) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to economic development of the San Joaquin Valley.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 27, as amended, Parra. California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.
Existing law authorizes 2 or more public agencies, including any federal department or state or local agency, to enter into an agreement for the purpose of exercising any power common to the contracting parties for specified purposes, including acquiring or constructing specified public facilities and improvements.
This bill would, from January 1, 2009, to January 1, 2020, create the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, with its executive board composed of the heads of specified state agencies and departments, local government members and private sector members, subject to specified criteria, to coordinate and improve existing local, state, and federal efforts for the valley to increase the living standards and the overall economic performance of the valley.
The bill would require the executive board of the partnership to meet at least quarterly and would specify that its the duties of the partnership are advisory in nature only. The bill would require the partnership to report annually on its activities to the Governor and the Legislature.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The San Joaquin Valley is remarkably rich and diverse in its people, agriculture, industry, and natural wonders. Within the expanses of the valley is located a region rich in resources and important to California’s heritage, economy, environment, and identity. It is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world and home to farmlands that feed the nation and the world. It includes three world-class national parks that preserve the natural beauty of the valley and the mountains that bound it. The San Joaquin Valley is intersected by a transportation corridor that is critical to the state’s interstate commerce. Its people are hardworking and representative of many cultures, races, and nationalities.
(b) The eight counties (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare) and the many communities that form the San Joaquin Valley enjoy assets that serve a great benefit to the rest of the state. However, the San Joaquin Valley faces many unique challenges as it works for a prosperous and healthy future. Compared to the rest of our great state, the valley is behind in several quality-of-life metrics. The valley’s unique geography, climate, and economy pose specific challenges for the well-being of the valley and state that demand the attention of government leaders at the local, state, and federal levels.
(c) The valley’s population is growing much faster than the state average. By nearly every indicator, the economic well-being of valley residents lags behind state and national averages. More than one in five valley residents lives in poverty. The valley’s young adults attend college at one-half the statewide average. The valley’s median household income is approximately twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) lower than the statewide median. The per capita income for valley residents is one-third lower than the average Californian. Yet, because of past neglect, the valley receives substantially less per capita funding than both the United States and state averages.
(d) The valley is also one of only two regions in the nation to be identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as an “extreme non-attainment” zone for repeatedly failing to meet air quality standards. Meanwhile, access to health care is nearly one-third lower for valley residents than the rest of the state.
(e) The strength of California is tied to the economic success of the valley. Improving the economy and the well-being of the people of the valley requires a concerted, coordinated, and creative response from leaders at all levels of government and from community members.
(f) The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley (partnership) was originally created by Executive Order S-05-05 on June 24, 2005, and extended via Executive Order S-22-06 until December 31, 2008, to begin focusing attention on one of the most vital, yet challenged regions of the state and recommend changes that would improve the economic well-being of the valley and the quality of life for its residents. This act is intended to continue the mission of the partnership for ten years, in statute, after the expiration of Executive Order S-22-06, starting on January 1, 2009, and continuing through December 31, 2019. The partnership has crafted a Strategic Action Plan that will achieve those goals.
(g) Under the authority of the Executive orders, the partnership has developed a vision to build a cohesive community, that is supported by a vibrant economy supported by competitive strengths and sufficient resources. The vision is to provide a high quality of life for all valley residents in order to achieve the “3Es” of sustainable growth: a prosperous economy, quality environment, and social equity.
(h) The partnership has initially achieved many valuable accomplishments and crafted a Strategic Action Plan to achieve its vision. Further, the Legislature has recognized these initial accomplishments and the potential of the partnership by appropriating five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan. It is now appropriate to place the governance structure and authority of the partnership in statute.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 12.9 (commencing with Section 7095) is added to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  12.9. The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley

7095.
 (a)  The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley is hereby created in state government, effective January 1, 2009.
(b)  The purpose of the partnership is to coordinate and improve existing state and federal efforts for the San Joaquin Valley, in concert with locally led efforts, to increase the living standards and the overall economic performance of the valley. Economic development efforts shall include consideration of the preservation or enhancement of the natural environment and natural resources of the valley. The executive board of the partnership shall consist of all of the following:
(1) Eight elected local government members consisting of mayors, county supervisors, or city council members. The Governor shall appoint these members from a list of three elected officials submitted by each of the eight councils of government from the following counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. There shall be no more than one elected local government member from each of these counties. The elected local government members appointed under this paragraph shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
(2) Eight civic leaders or private sector members, chosen by the Governor, with at least one appointed from, and residing in, each of the following counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. The civic leaders or private sector members appointed under this paragraph shall serve at the pleasure of their the Governor.
(3) The following state officials:
(A) The Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing.
(B) The Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development.
(C) The Secretary for Environmental Protection.
(D) The Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
(E) The Secretary of State and Consumer Services.
(F) The Secretary for Education.
(G) The Secretary of the Resources Agency.
(H) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services.
(4) (A) One representative, from each of the following entities who shall reside in one of the following counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare:
(i) Federal Interagency Task Force for the Economic Development of the San Joaquin Valley.
(ii) California Economic Strategy Panel.
(iii) California Transportation Commission.
(iv) State Air Resources Board.
(v) California Workforce Investment Board.
(B) The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint the representatives under this paragraph, and the representatives shall serve at the pleasure of the Senate Committee on Rules.
(c) (1) After appointment of the membership of the executive board of the partnership pursuant to subdivision (b), the partnership executive board shall nominate for membership in the partnership to its board up to twelve representatives of existing public nonprofit organizations or for-profit organizations that the partnership recognizes for using existing resources more effectively and implementing portions of the Strategic Action Plan. The executive board of the partnership may nominate representatives from regional consortia of council of governments, workforce investment boards, economic development corporations, higher education institutions, employers related to targeted industry clusters, and county superintendents of education. All representatives nominated under this paragraph shall reside in one of the following counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare.
(2) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint the representatives nominated by the executive board of the partnership, and those representatives shall serve on the partnership executive board at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Assembly.
(d) After appointment of the membership of the executive board of the partnership is completed pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c), the executive board of the partnership shall appoint to the partnership three individuals to its board with specialized expertise and knowledge of valley issues.
(e) The Governor shall designate a chair and two deputy chairs for the executive board of the partnership, selecting one elected official, one civic leader, and one cabinet member from the executive board of the partnership for these positions.
(f) All state legislators and Members of Congress representing the various portions of the eight counties constituting the valley shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the executive board of the partnership. The participation of the members and state legislators shall be limited to service that does not conflict with their designated legislative responsibilities.
(g) No member shall receive compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses related to travel by the member for purposes of partnership activities.
(h) The executive board of the partnership shall meet at least once quarterly for the conduct of its business. It may also host town hall meetings or other activities in the valley in addition to, or in conjunction with, its quarterly meetings. valley related to the purpose and authority of the partnership. The executive board may form additional advisory committees, subcommittees, or working groups as it deems necessary.
(i) A majority of the membership of the executive board shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of holding meetings or otherwise conducting partnership business. Any item of partnership business requiring a vote of the membership shall be subject to a vote of two-thirds of the partnership members members of the executive board of the partnership who are present at the meeting and who are eligible to vote.
(j) Duties of the partnership shall be advisory in nature only and shall not conflict with, or take precedence over, any of the duties and requirements of other offices held by the partnership members. The state officials described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) shall recuse themselves from discussing and voting on proposed legislation of the partnership. The duties of the on any matters before the partnership relating to state legislation. The duties of the partnership may include all of the following:
(1) Analyze programs and policies of partnership member agencies that are related to the valley to determine what changes, modifications, and innovations should be considered, if any.
(2) Consider statistical and data analysis, research, and policy studies related to the valley.
(3) Develop, recommend, and implement short‑term and long‑term options for promoting sustainable economic development in the valley.
(4) Consult and coordinate activities with federal, state, tribal, and local governments, community leaders, state legislators, Members of Congress, the private sector, and other interested parties to benefit the valley, paying particular attention to maintaining existing authorities of the state, the tribes, and local governments, and preserving their existing working relationships with other agencies, organizations, or individuals.
(5) Coordinate and collaborate on research and demonstration priorities of partnership member agencies related to the valley.
(6) Integrate state and federal initiatives and programs into the design of sustainable economic development actions for the valley.
(7) Identify projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic vitality of the valley, especially those that leverage federal, state, local, and private sector resources in a coordinated effort to address critical needs in the valley.
(8) Work with members of the state’s elected federal congressional representatives and federal officials, including the federal Task Force for the Economic Recovery of the San Joaquin Valley, to gain federal support for projects identified by the partnership as critical to the valley.
(9) Partner with the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and the state’s other research and educational institutions, as well as private foundations, to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement in support of studies of particular interest and importance to the valley.
(10) Review state policies and regulations to ensure they are fair and appropriate for the state’s diverse geographic regions, including the San Joaquin Valley, and determine whether alternative approaches can accomplish goals in less costly ways.
(11) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislature changes that would improve the economic well-being of the valley and the quality of life of valley residents.
(12) Facilitate and coordinate the implementation of the San Joaquin Valley Strategic Action Plan submitted to the Governor and Legislative Budget Committees.
(13) Utilize funding from all available sources to implement the Strategic Action Plan in a manner consistent with the approved appropriation and budget language.
(14) Convene a regionwide annual summit to engage government officials, civic leaders, and the public to evaluate and adjust the Strategic Action Plan. Identify projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic vitality of the valley, especially those that leverage federal, state, local, and private sector resources in a coordinated effort to address critical needs in the valley.

(k)The partnership may form additional advisory committees, subcommittees, or working groups, as it deems necessary.

(l)

(k) The partnership shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on its activities, incorporating, at a minimum, both of the following items:
(1) Determinations and resulting actions initiated by the partnership and participating entities and state agencies.
(2) Policies for enactment in furtherance of the Strategic Action Plan.

7095.1.
 The Business, Transportation and Housing Agency shall provide administrative support to the partnership out of existing resources or any budget appropriation to finance that administrative support. The Director of Finance may accept monetary gifts for the support of the activities of the partnership.

7095.3.
 This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.