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. 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 would be required to develop recommendations for the closure or realignment of state bureaucracies for consideration by the commission, as specified. 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.