Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development: Office of Freight.

Existing law creates the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, known as "GO-Biz," and requires GO-Biz to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Under existing law, GO-Biz is under the direct control of the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, who is responsible to the Governor and who is required to, among other things, provide to the Legislature a strategy for international trade and investment, as provided. Existing law requires the Transportation Agency to prepare a state freight plan on or before December 31, 2014, and every 5 years thereafter, with specified elements to govern the immediate and long-range planning activities and capital investments of the state with respect to the movement of freight. This bill would establish the Office of Freight within GO-Biz. The bill would require the office to serve as the coordinating entity to steer the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability for freight and ports across the state and to promote and assess the continued economic vitality and sustainability of the freight sector. The bill would require the Governor to appoint a director to (1) oversee the Office of Freight, (2) facilitate collaboration along the supply chain, and (3) advocate for the interests of business and industry in the freight sector. The bill would require the Office of Freight to meet with specified state agencies as necessary to address and discuss ongoing freight and supply chain issues and would authorize the Office of Freight to establish and convene stakeholder advisory groups, as provided. The bill would require the Office of Freight in consultation with specified state agencies, to prepare an assessment of statewide economic growth, competitiveness, prosperity, resiliency, and sustainability for the state's freight sector. The bill would require GO-Biz to submit the assessment to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2024, and an updated assessment at least once every 5 years thereafter, and would also require GO-Biz to use the assessment to inform the development of, and recommended actions included within, the strategy for international trade and investment, as provided. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to incorporate the findings of the assessment into the state freight plan, as specified.