BILL NUMBER: SB 1259 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 23, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Senator DeSaulnier
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
An act to amend Section 51 of the Labor Code, relating to
employment add Chapter 2 (commencing with Section
15910) to Part 12 of Division 3 of the Government Code, relating to
state government .
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1259, as amended, DeSaulnier. Director of Industrial
Relations. State government: Economic Development and
Job Creation Agency.
Existing law requires various state entities to perform various
duties relating to economic development and job creation.
This bill would create the Economic Development and Job Creation
Agency in state government, and would require that the Secretary of
Economic Development and Job Creation serve as the executive officer
of the agency. The bill would provide for the appointment of the
secretary, as specified, and would specify that the secretary serves
at the pleasure of the Governor. This bill would require the
secretary to develop a reorganization plan and to propose a structure
for the agency, and would also require the agency to perform
specified duties relating to economic development and job creation.
Existing law provides that the Department of Industrial Relations
be headed by a director appointed by the Governor, with the advice
and consent of the Senate, serving at the pleasure of the Governor.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to this provision.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares
all of the following:
(1) California is facing unprecedented economic hardship. Hundreds
of thousands of jobs have disappeared, millions of homes are at risk
of foreclosure, and state services have suffered devastating cuts.
(2) California currently has one of the highest unemployment rates
in the country at 12.3 percent.
(3) In November of 2009, over 2 million Californians were looking
for work. Close to a million more Californians were looking for work
in 2009 compared to November of 2008.
(4) The number of persons not in the labor force but who desire a
job has increased by 34.7 percent since November of 2008. Part-time
workers who want full-time employment increased by 66 percent.
(5) Thirty-four percent of unemployed Californians have been
looking for work for over six months (27 weeks). The number of people
unemployed 27 weeks or more has increased by 170.4 percent since
November of 2008.
(6) California lost 952,800 jobs over the last two years (from
July 2007 to July 2009) and the state is projected to lose over a
million jobs by 2013. The construction industry has been particularly
hard hit, with employment down by 29 percent since 2007. The
manufacturing industry has seen the loss of 600,000 jobs since 2001,
$75 billion a year in lost wages and $5 billion annually in lost tax
revenue.
(7) Studies have found that California lacks a comprehensive
long-term strategy to facilitate its future competitiveness in the
global marketplace.
(8) The best way to grow our economy and our state's revenue base
is to spur economic development and create jobs.
(9) California lacks a common-sense, efficient, single point of
entry for employers to access state services and benefits relating to
economic development and job creation.
(10) Currently, there are nearly 100 agencies, departments,
commissions, and task forces scattered throughout state government
with duties relating to job creation.
(11) This type of dispersal of resources leads to inefficiencies,
confusion, and lack of accountability for the business enterprises
that seek state services and assistance in opening, expanding, or
maintaining their businesses.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Economic
Development and Job Creation Agency provide a single portal for
economic development and job creation in California.
SEC. 2. Chapter 2 (commencing with Secti
on 15910) is added to Part 12 of Division 3 of the
Government Code , to read:
CHAPTER 2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION AGENCY
15910. (a) There is hereby created in state government the
Economic Development and Job Creation Agency.
(b) The Secretary of Economic Development and Job Creation shall
serve as the executive officer of the agency, shall be appointed by
the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall hold
office at the pleasure of the Governor.
(c) The secretary shall develop a reorganization plan and propose
a structure for the agency that enables it to perform all of the
duties listed in subdivision (d). This plan shall be based on
stakeholder input, including, but not limited to, labor and
management participants.
(d) The agency shall do all of the following:
(1) Develop a statewide strategy that identifies the state's goals
and objectives for job creation and specify performance measures to
assess the state's progress towards attaining those goals and
objectives.
(2) Ensure that there is a cabinet-level official within the
Governor's administration responsible for presenting and addressing
economic development and job creation issues.
(3) Create a clearinghouse of accurate data on the state's
economic development activities and their effectiveness.
(4) Simplify, strengthen, and improve the operation and management
of economic development programs that provide services to California'
s workers and employers.
(5) Eliminate duplicative duties, achieve cost efficiencies, and
promote accountability for the attainment of economic development
goals and objectives.
(6) Allow the state to marshal all of its resources to
systematically target new industries to site within the state.
(7) Build on our state's educational, workforce, and geographic
assets to seed innovation.
(8) Attract new and sustainable industries that will create
high-wage, middle-class jobs.
(9) Provide a better understanding of federal and state laws that
protect workers.
SECTION 1. Section 51 of the Labor Code is
amended to read:
51. The department shall be conducted under the control of an
executive officer known as the Director of Industrial Relations. The
director shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and
consent of the Senate and hold office at the pleasure of the Governor
and shall receive an annual salary provided for by Chapter 6
(commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.