Initiative for Californians Abroad.

Existing law requires the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to develop and implement an International Trade and Investment Program and authorizes the Director of GO-Biz to establish international trade and investment offices, as specified. Existing law requires that the Lieutenant Governor serve as the chair of the International Affairs and Trade Interagency Committee, which shall create a California Trade and Service Office Advisory Group. Existing law specifies that the advisory group, consisting of private sector and nongovernmental leaders, shall explore and identify the use of nonstate funds to open and support offices promoting California trade and services globally. This bill would require the Initiative for Californians Abroad to be established in GO-Biz. The bill would require the office to serve, for purposes of the initiative, as the direct point of contact for Mexican entities on matters relating to California. The bill would, at the request of GO-Biz, authorize the Lieutenant Governor, the California Community College Chancellor's office, the California State University, and the Regents of the University of California to assist the Director of GO-Biz in establishing the initiative. The bill would specify the programs and services that the initiative may provide and authorize the director to create an advisory board to provide guidance with respect to overseeing the program and creating a strategy for using metrics to evaluate the success of the program. The bill would specify that the costs of implementation are to be supported through public and private sector moneys. The bill would require GO-Biz to annually report on its activities on the commission's internet website within 90 days following the close of the fiscal year, including outcomes of those activities and current and emerging issues impacting the California and Mexico relationship.