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AB-2213 Government reorganization: realignment or closure.(2011-2012)

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AB2213:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 16, 2012
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 28, 2012

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011–2012 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2213

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Donnelly

February 24, 2012

An act to amend Section 9148.8 of, to add Chapter 8.2 (commencing with Section 11820) to Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, and to repeal Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 9147.7) and Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 9148.50) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, relating to government reorganization, and making an appropriation therefor.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2213, as amended, Donnelly. Government reorganization: realignment or closure.
The State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act requires each state agency, department, office, and commission for which strategic planning efforts are recommended to develop a strategic plan, as specified, that identifies, among other things, the steps being taken to develop performance measures to implement a performance budgeting system or a performance review. The act also requires that these entities report to the Governor and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by April 1 of each year on the steps being taken to develop and adopt a strategic plan. Existing law creates a Bureau of State Audits and requires it to conduct audits of state and local government agencies, as specified. The activities of the Bureau of State Audits are funded by the State Audit Fund, which is continuously appropriated for these purposes.
This bill would establish the Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Commission in state government with a specified membership. Beginning on January 1, 2014, the Controller, the Director of Finance, the Legislative Analyst, and the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, and the State Auditor would be required to develop recommendations for the closure or realignment of state bureaucracies for consideration by the commission, as specified. By requiring money in the State Audit Fund to be spent for a new purpose, this bill would make an appropriation. The commission, not later than July 15, 2015, would be required to submit a report of its final recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature that establishes a list of state bureaucracies that are proposed to be realigned or abolished.
The bill would also require the commission to independently evaluate the recommendations, conduct 3 public hearings, and, by January 1, 2015, to have at least one member of the commission visit each state bureaucracy considered for realignment or closure. The bill would require the Governor, upon approval of the list of recommendations, to prepare the list as a reorganization plan and to submit the plan to the Legislature under statutory provisions that apply to the Governor’s reorganization plans.
The bill would appropriate $250,000 from the General Fund to the commission to defray costs incurred during its first year of operation, thereby making an appropriation.

Existing law establishes the Joint Sunset Review Committee to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies and to conduct a comprehensive analysis of every eligible agency, as defined, that is scheduled for repeal to determine if the agency is still necessary and cost effective. Existing law also requires the committee to assist in the evaluation of legislation creating new state boards or new categories of licensed professionals.

This bill would eliminate the Joint Sunset Review Committee and make conforming changes to related provisions.

Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 9147.7) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code is repealed.
SEC. 2.Section 9148.8 of the Government Code is amended to read:
9148.8.

The appropriate policy committee of the Legislature may evaluate a plan prepared pursuant to Section 9148.4 or 9148.6.

SEC. 3.Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 9148.50) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code is repealed.

SEC. 4.SECTION 1.

 Chapter 8.2 (commencing with Section 11820) is added to Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  8.2. Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Act of 2013

11820.
 It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter ensure that a timely, independent, and fair process for realigning or closing outdated or ineffective and inefficient governmental agencies, bureaucracies, boards, and commissions is initiated.

11821.
 This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Act of 2013.

11822.
 (a) “Commission” means the Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Commission established pursuant to Section 11823.
(b) “Management experience” means a person who possesses a master of arts degree, an equivalent degree or equivalent business experience, or a more advanced degree in the field of business management or public administration.
(c) “State bureaucracy” means every state agency, office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, or commission. Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 11000, “state bureaucracy” and “state agency” include the California State University.

11823.
 (a) The Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Commission is hereby established in state government. By April 1, 2014, the Governor shall appoint the members of the commission, as follows:
(1) One member who shall be appointed upon consultation with the Speaker of the Assembly.
(2) One member who shall be appointed upon consultation with the minority leader of the Assembly.
(3) One member who shall be appointed upon consultation with the President pro Tempore of the Senate.
(4) One member who shall be appointed upon consultation with the minority leader of the Senate.
(5) Three members, at the Governor’s discretion, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
(b) The appointments to be made pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, shall be made by the Governor, at his or her discretion, with advice from the legislative leader specified in each paragraph.
(c) Each member of the commission shall have had management experience prior to his or her appointment to the commission.
(d) The Governor shall designate one of the members to be chairperson of the commission.
(e) Each member of the commission shall be a United States citizen and a resident of this state.
(f) The commission may employ, pursuant to laws and regulations governing state civil service, an executive secretary and any clerical, professional, and technical assistants as may appear necessary.

11824.
 (a) None of the members appointed to the commission shall have had a paid position with a federal, local, or state governmental agency within five years prior to the date of his or her appointment.
(b) No member appointed to the commission shall be any of the following:
(1) A party to an ongoing contract with a federal, local, or state governmental agency.
(2) Employed by an entity that is a party to an ongoing contract with a federal, local, or state governmental agency.
(3) Employed by a federal, local, or state governmental agency.
(4) A person who, at the time of his or her appointment or during his or her term of service, qualifies as a lobbyist, as specified in Section 82039.

11825.
 Each member of the commission shall be appointed for a term of two years and may be reappointed for a second term of two years. A person may not serve more than four years total time on the commission.

11826.
 Each member of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall receive the daily equivalent of the average salary paid to deputy directors of agencies listed in Section 11550 for each day while on official business of the commission. The chairperson of the commission shall also serve without compensation, but shall receive the daily equivalent of the salary received by an agency head pursuant to Section 11550 for each day while on official business of the commission. In addition, each member shall also be entitled to receive necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of his or her duties.

11827.
 The commission shall do all of the following:
(a) Examine state bureaucracies in this state primarily to determine if the jurisdictions of various state bureaucracies overlap, or if a state bureaucracy’s mission has become obsolete.
(b) Submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature that sets forth findings that recommend needed reforms and establishes a list of state bureaucracies to be realigned or abolished.
(c) Propose realignment and closure of state bureaucracies within this state in order to reduce duplication of services, increase productivity, and reestablish the proper role of government.
(d) Examine the current configuration of state bureaucracies and investigate their duties and responsibilities.

11828.
 The commission may do any of the following:
(a) Meet at times and places that it may deem proper.
(b) Issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, papers, accounts, reports, and documents.
(c) Administer oaths.
(d) Contract, as it deems necessary, for the rendition of services, facilities, studies, and reports that will best assist the commission in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.

11829.
 Beginning on January 1, 2014, the Controller, the Director of Finance, the Legislative Analyst, and the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, and the State Auditor shall develop recommendations for the closure or realignment of state bureaucracies for consideration by the commission. These recommendations shall be reported to the commission by July 15, 2014.

11830.
 Upon receiving the recommendations reported under Section 11829, the commission shall independently evaluate these reports. In addition, the commission may add other state bureaucracies to study for realignment or closure, which may include proposals submitted by residents outside of state government.

11831.
 (a) (1) By January 1, 2015, at least one member of the commission shall have visited each state bureaucracy considered for realignment or closure. In addition, as part of its review process, the commission shall conduct three public hearings in the state with the final hearing occurring on or before March 15, 2015, at Sacramento. The final hearing shall include testimony from the Legislature, other expert witnesses, and the agencies specified in Section 11829.
(2) The commission shall also take into consideration reports and analysis of the Joint Sunset Review Committee, prior to submitting its final recommendations pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b) Upon completion of its evaluation and not later than July 15, 2015, the commission shall submit its final recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature and transmit a copy of these recommendations to the Director of Finance who shall prepare and issue a public report that displays the forecasted savings in state expenditures that would result from these recommendations.
(c) By August 15, 2015, the Governor shall act on the commission’s recommendations. The Governor may approve the recommendations or return the recommendations to the commission for revision. If the Governor returns the recommendations, the commission shall have one month to revise and transmit to the Governor and the Director of Finance an updated list. The commission is not required to incorporate recommendations of the Governor in its list. The director shall prepare a revised public forecast from this list. If the Governor rejects the revised list, that action shall end the realignment and closure process for the year without action. However, the commission may submit a revised list in the following year after consideration and at least one public hearing.

11832.
 (a) If the Governor approves the list as submitted by the commission pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 11831, the Governor shall prepare the list, without alteration or amendment, as a reorganization plan and submit the plan to the Legislature pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 12080) of Chapter 1 of Part 2. Upon being transmitted to the Legislature, the plan shall be considered and subject to all applicable provisions in that article. To that end, it is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter be deemed a part of the statutory authority for the Governor to reorganize executive officers and agencies, as specified in Section 6 of Article V of the California Constitution.
(b) The plan shall become effective the first day after 60 calendar days of continuous session of the Legislature after the date on which the plan is transmitted to each house or at a later date as may be provided by the plan, unless, prior to the end of the 60-calendar-day period, both houses of the Legislature adopt, by a majority vote of the duly elected and qualified members thereof, a resolution as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 12080.
(c) The plan shall specify that the state bureaucracies recommended for closure or realignment be closed or realigned beginning one year after the effective date of the plan and completed within three years of the effective date.

11833.
 Upon the reorganization plan becoming effective, the Director of Finance shall compute the savings in state governmental expenses that are forecast to occur due to the closure or realignment of the state bureaucracies included in the plan and transmit this information to the Governor and the Legislature. It is the intent of the Legislature that these savings be reflected in reduced taxation or state expenditures, subject to any existing constitutional restrictions.

SEC. 5.SEC. 2.

 (a) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Commission created pursuant to Chapter 8.2 (commencing with Section 11820) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, in order to defray costs incurred by the commission during the first year of operation.
(b) The Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Commission may not expend more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in carrying out its duties.