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AB-3242 Commission on Cutting Red Tape: Government Operations Agency.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 02/16/2024 09:00 PM
AB3242:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 3242

Introduced by Assembly Member Luz Rivas

February 16, 2024

An act to amend Section 12803.2 of, and to add Section 12815.5 to, the Government Code, relating to state government.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 3242, as introduced, Luz Rivas. Commission on Cutting Red Tape: Government Operations Agency.
Existing law establishes the Government Operations Agency, which consists of several state entities, including, but not limited to, the State Personnel Board, the Department of General Services, and the Office of Administrative Law. Under existing law, the Government Operations Agency is under the direction of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Government Operations, who is appointed by, and holds office at the pleasure of, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
This bill would establish, within the Government Operations Agency, the Commission on Cutting Red Tape, consisting of 5 members appointed by the Governor. The bill would state the goal of the commission is to identify administrative obstacles in governmental procedures that cost time and resources without adding protections, and would provide guidance for the commission to achieve this goal. The bill would also require the Secretary of Government Operations to submit an annual report to the Legislature and to other relevant state agencies detailing the recommendations of the commission.
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 finds and declares the following:
(a) California has one of the largest economies in the world, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.59 trillion dollars in 2022.
(b) Our Golden State is subject to volatile tax revenue sources that can cause significant fluctuations in state income and impact the delivery of essential services.
(c) According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, rent, energy, and food prices have increased by 19 percent since 2020.
(d) Californians continue to feel the pressure of rising costs, increasing homelessness rates, and a housing crisis.
(e) While the state has made significant progress in tackling these issues, cutting unnecessary red tape could help put money back in the pockets of Californians, reduce unemployment, and grow our economy while reducing cost pressures on the state budget in perpetuity.
(f) The intent of the Cutting the Red Tape Commission is to make it easier for people to obtain the government services they need while reducing the regulatory burden on businesses to encourage investment, bolster California’s competitiveness, drive economic growth, and get people back to work.
(g) By creating a streamlined approval process and modernizing the delivery of services, we can grow traditional and emerging employment sectors.
(h) By eliminating pointless red tape, like unnecessary or duplicative administrative processes that do not offer additional protections, the state will be able to protect its natural resources, save time and money, and continue to protect the health and safety of our residents while being fiscally responsible.

SEC. 2.

 Section 12803.2 of the Government Code is amended to read:

12803.2.
 (a) The Government Operations Agency shall consist of all of the following:
(1) The Office of Administrative Law.
(2) The Public Employees’ Retirement System.
(3) The State Teachers’ Retirement System.
(4) The State Personnel Board.
(5) The California Victim Compensation Board.
(6) The Department of General Services.
(7) The Department of Technology.
(8) The Franchise Tax Board.
(9) The Department of Human Resources.
(10) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
(11) The Office of Data and Innovation, effective July 1, 2023.
(12) The Commission on Cutting Red Tape, effective July 1, 2025.
(b) The Government Operations Agency shall include the Department of FISCal upon the acceptance of the Financial Information System for California (FISCal) by the state, as determined by the Director of Finance, pursuant to Section 11890.
(c) The Government Operations Agency shall be governed by the Secretary of Government Operations pursuant to Section 12801. However, the Director of Human Resources shall report directly to the Governor on issues relating to labor relations.
(d) The Governor, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Government Operations, may appoint up to three deputies for the secretary.

SEC. 3.

 Section 12815.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:

12815.5.
 (a) The Commission on Cutting Red Tape is hereby established within the Government Operations Agency. Effective July 1, 2025, the commission shall operate as a stand-alone entity that reports to the Government Operations Agency consistent with other state entities listed in Section 12803.2.
(b) The Commission on Cutting Red Tape shall consist of five members. The members shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.
(c) The commission’s mission shall be to identify administrative obstacles in governmental procedures that cost time and resources without adding protections, and suggesting regulatory or statutory solutions to remediate them. The commission shall fulfill this mission by:
(1) Creating and maintaining a website with a portal to provide a method for industry experts, government employees, and the general public to give feedback regarding governmental processes that are needlessly complex, take too long, serve no purpose, or are duplicative or wasteful.
(2) Establishing industry panels to solicit specific feedback from key industries and the nonprofit sector.
(3) Reviewing feedback and establishing a process, in consultation with other relevant state agencies, to determine if existing complexity, time, or duplication serves a governmental purpose or provides necessary protections, including, but not limited to, environmental protections, public safety protections, and fiscal accountability.
(4) Recommending to the Secretary of Government Operations potential changes within all branches of state government to policies and procedures, regulations, or statutes that may save time, money, and resources, while still protecting the vital interests of the state.
(d) The Secretary of Government Operations shall submit a report to the Legislature in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, and to each relevant state agency, no later than March 15, 2026, and annually thereafter, detailing the recommendations made by the commission during the prior calendar year.