Gov. Brown Releases Reorganization Plan for Calif. Government

Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has delivered to the Little Hoover Commission his government reorganization plan that would reduce the number of state agencies from 12 to 10 by consolidating certain departments and eliminating others, the Sacramento Bee's "The State Worker" reports.

The commission has 30 days to review the plan and make recommendations to Brown and the state Legislature.

The plan automatically will take effect 60 days after the commission makes its recommendations unless a majority in either the Assembly or the Senate votes to reject it (Ortiz, "The State Worker," Sacramento Bee, 3/30).

It is unclear whether lawmakers will support the plan.

Background

Brown said the regulatory structure of California's government is a "labyrinth of disjointed boards, commissions, agencies and departments."

He added that many unrelated departments are housed together -- such as the Department of Managed Health Care and Caltrans -- while many related programs are spread out among different agencies.

According to Brown, the reorganization plan would save taxpayers money by reducing duplicative functions.

Reorganization Plan Details

Among the changes included in Brown's plan is the creation of the Government Operations Agency to manage CalPERS, the State Personnel Board and several other related agencies, according to California State Legislature Chief Consultant Toni Symonds.

The reorganization plan also would make the California Emergency Management Agency a new office that reports directly to the governor (Shaw, Sacramento Business Journal, 4/2).