BILL NUMBER: AB 690 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 11, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 30, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 23, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 6, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 9, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Campos and Medina
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo, Daly, Fox, Linder, and V.
Manuel Pérez)
FEBRUARY 21, 2013
An act to add the heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section
99500) to, to add Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 99520)
and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99530) to, Title 20
of, and to repeal Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 8700)
and Chapter 8.1 (commencing with Section 8710) of Division
1 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, relating to state government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 690, as amended, Campos. State government: international
relations.
Existing law requires the California-Mexico Border Relations
Council to, among other things, coordinate activities of state
agencies that are related to cross-border programs, initiatives,
projects, and partnerships that exist within state government.
Existing law also authorizes the Office of California-Mexico
Affairs to develop better relations with Mexico by coordinating with
state agencies to foster economic cooperation.
This bill would repeal, repeal and
recast those provisions relating to the California-Mexico
Border Relations Council. This bill would repeal and recast those
provisions relating to the Office of California-Mexico Affairs.
provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 8 (commencing with Section
8700) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code is repealed.
SEC. 2. SECTION 1. Chapter 8.1
(commencing with Section 8710) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the
Government Code is repealed.
SEC. 3. SEC. 2. The heading of
Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 99500) is added to Title 20 of the
Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 4. SEC. 3. Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 99520) is added to Title 20 of the
Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER 2. OFFICE OF CALIFORNIA-MEXICO AFFAIRS
CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER RELATIONS COUNCIL
99520. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) The United States and Mexican economies have become
increasingly integrated, particularly since the 1994 adoption of the
North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
(b) As the second largest United States exporter to Mexico,
California has the potential to increase its exports at a faster pace
and capitalize on Mexico's growing economy.
(c) In 2012, the value of California's exports to Mexico totaled
$26.3 billion, equivalent to more than one and one-half times
California's trade with its closest trade partner Canada, at $17.2
billion, and almost twice its second closest trade partner, China, at
$13.9 billion.
(d) The relationship between Mexico and California generates over
$20.9 billion per year for California.
(e) According to the United States Chamber of Commerce, trade with
Mexico in 2010 represented 692,240 California jobs, making
California the state with the most trade-related jobs with Mexico in
the United States. California is the second largest exporter to
Mexico among the 50 states, ranking behind Texas.
(f) Among California's international trading partners, only Mexico
shares a border with California. In fact, California has four major
international border crossings supporting the movement of both
persons and goods: San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, and Calexico. Of
these, Otay Mesa and Calexico accommodate the largest volume of
trade. Otay Mesa is the largest California crossing, ranking sixth in
the nation. In 2010, these California gateways with Mexico moved
$46.9 billion in merchandise.
(g) At issue is border crossing delays between Mexico and the
United States along the Imperial County-Baja California border.
(h) In California, losses due to border crossing delays accounted
for an estimated revenue loss of $1.16 billion and 25,000 jobs in
2008.
(i) While California remains the largest recipient of foreign
domestic investment (FDI) in the United States, faster FDI is
occurring elsewhere.
(j) Despite this critical economic relationship, California has
not had a formal mechanism for the past decade devoted to maximizing
trade, addressing challenges, and coordinating cross-border programs
for trade development between the two countries. This has left
California employers and businesses without formal access to Mexican
government officials, a major disadvantage to California's trade
industries.
(k) In 2006, the Office of California-Mexico Affairs was
established to further and develop favorable relations with Mexican
states by cooperating with similar organizations and agencies
situated within California, the United States, or Mexico. Important
areas of activity include, but are not limited to, enhancing economic
development opportunities among the participating states, improving
working conditions and living standards, and fostering the protection
and improvement of the environment in Mexico and California.
(l) To help carry out these duties the California-Mexico Border
Relations Council was also established to identify new border
priorities and fundable projects in the areas of infrastructure,
trade, environment, health, and security while supporting current and
ongoing activities such as the Border Governors Conference, trade
missions, and border workgroups, and coordinating specific future
projects with Mexico.
(m) It is critical for California that state agencies continue to
address important United States-Mexico issues.
(n) Furthermore, California should maximize its economic
relationship with Mexico to improve the state's economy, to maximize
the amount of exports, and create more California jobs.
(o) Therefore, the Legislature finds that California needs a
formalized trade relationship with Mexico. Establishing an official
trade relationship with Mexico will help ensure that the state can
improve its global competitiveness and protect California industry,
proactively support the expansion and location of businesses in
California, provide international business assistance to California
businesses, and support their entry and successful participation in
the growing Mexican marketplace.
(p) The Office of California-Mexico Affairs and the
California-Mexico Border Relations Council provide
provides a focal point in state government to
serve as a clearinghouse for information and assistance to other
state agencies that are involved with Mexico.
99521. The following definitions shall govern the construction of
this chapter:
(a) "Conference" means the Southwest Border Regional Conference.
(b) "Office" means the Office of California-Mexico Affairs.
(a) "Border" means the line of demarcation between California and
Mexico.
(b) "Council" means the California-Mexico Border Relations
Council.
(c) "Public agency" means a city, county, city and county,
district, or the state or any agency or department of the state.
99522. (a) The California-Mexico Border Relations Council is
hereby established in state government. The council shall consist of
the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic
Development, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, the
Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of California
Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Transportation, the
Secretary of Food and Agriculture, and the Director of Emergency
Services.
(b) The Secretary for Environmental Protection shall chair the
council.
99523. The council shall do all of the following:
(a) Coordinate activities of state agencies that are related to
cross-border programs, initiatives, projects, and partnerships that
exist within state government, to improve the effectiveness of state
and local efforts that are of concern between California and Mexico.
(b) Establish policies to coordinate the collection and sharing of
data related to cross-border issues between and among agencies.
(c) Identify and recommend to the Legislature changes in law
needed to achieve the goals of this section.
99524. Beginning January 1, 2008, the council shall submit a
report to the Legislature on the council's activities annually.
99522. (a) There is in state government an Office of
California-Mexico Affairs. Within this office the operations of the
California Office of the Southwest Border Regional Conference shall
be continued.
(b) The office succeeds to and is vested with all the duties,
powers, purposes, and responsibilities vested in the California
office of the conference and previously vested in the Commission of
the Californias.
(c) The office shall have possession and control of all records,
papers, offices, equipment, supplies, moneys, funds, appropriations,
land, and other property, real or personal, held for the benefit or
use of the California office of the conference, or previously held
for the benefit or use of the commission, in the performance of the
duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the
California office of the conference or the commission.
99523. The Governor, or his or her designee, shall serve as the
California member of any board, council, commission, or other
binational advisory or coordinating body convened under the auspices
of the Office of California-Mexico Affairs.
99524. The office shall further and develop favorable relations
with the State of Baja California, the State of Baja California Sur,
other Mexican states bordering the United States, and the remaining
states and territories of the Republic of Mexico necessary for the
completion of the office's tasks. The office shall cooperate with
similar organizations and agencies situated within California, the
United States, or Mexico, to further economic development, improve
working conditions and living standards, and foster the protection
and improvement of the environment in Mexico and California. The
office shall avail itself of the services of San Diego State
University, which is engaged in educational, cultural, and research
activities with Mexico. The office shall be responsible for carrying
out the ongoing responsibilities of the Southwest Border Regional
Conference and any successor binational organization.
99525. The Governor shall appoint a director of the office. The
director may appoint and employ any personnel that he or she deems
necessary to carry out the functions of the office. The office may
incur all necessary expenses to effectuate its purposes and may
accept grants from federal and state agencies. The office may also
accept funds from private organizations or individuals in order to
assist the office in the accomplishment of its functions as set forth
in this chapter.
99526. Members and employees of the office may travel outside of
California and may hold hearings and conduct investigations within
and outside of the state whenever necessary to carry out the duties
set forth in this chapter. Members and employees may acquire any
available information from any governmental agency within the United
States or Mexico necessary for the completion of their tasks.
99527. The office shall be responsible for the establishment of
committees in those topic areas deemed necessary by the director.
Recommendations of the committees shall not be binding on the
Governor or the Legislature but shall only be advisory in nature.
SEC. 5. Chapter 3 (commencing with Section
99530) is added to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER 3. CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER RELATIONS COUNCIL
99530. The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
(a) "Border" means the line of demarcation between California and
Mexico.
(b) "Council" means the California-Mexico Border Relations
Council.
(c) "Public agency" means a city, county, city and county,
district, or the state or any agency or department of the state.
99531. (a) The California-Mexico Border Relations Council is
hereby established in state government. The council shall consist of
the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic
Development, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, the
Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of California
Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Transportation, the
Secretary of Food and Agriculture, and the Director of Emergency
Services.
(b) The Secretary for Environmental Protection shall chair the
council.
99532. The council shall do all of the following:
(a) Coordinate activities of state agencies that are related to
cross-border programs, initiatives, projects, and partnerships that
exist within state government, to improve the effectiveness of state
and local efforts that are of concern between California and Mexico.
(b) Establish policies to coordinate the collection and sharing of
data related to cross-border issues between and among agencies.
(c) Identify and recommend to the Legislature changes in law
needed to achieve the goals of this section.
99533. Beginning January 1, 2008, the council shall submit a
report to the Legislature on the council's activities annually.