BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       


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                                 THIRD READING
                                        

          Bill No:  AB 2684
          Author:   Bock (I)
          Amended:  8/14/00 in Senate
          Vote:     21

            
           SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE  :  4-0, 8/9/00
          AYES:  Johnston, Monteith, Perata, Rainey

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  11-0, 8/21/00
          AYES:  Johnston, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Johnson, Karnette,  
            Kelley, Leslie, McPherson, Mountjoy, Perata

           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  79-0, 5/30/00 - See last page for vote
           

           SUBJECT  :    State-mandated local costs

           SOURCE  :     Author

           
           DIGEST  :    This bill creates a mechanism for allocation of  
          savings realized in the implementation of state-mandated  
          local programs.  (See Analysis for specifics.)

           ANALYSIS  :    The California Constitution requires the state  
          government to reimburse local governments for the costs of  
          new or increased state-mandated local programs.  Local  
          officials file reimbursement claims with the Commission on  
          State Mandates and, if the commission approves the claims,  
          the legislature appropriates the necessary funds.

          State law requires counties to provide supportive services  
          so that handicapped children can benefit from special  
                                                           CONTINUED





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          education (AB 3632, W. Brown, 1984).  In 1999-2000, the  
          state reimbursed counties $38.6 million for these  
          state-mandated costs. The 1976 Child Abduction and Recovery  
          program mandates district attorney's to actively assist in  
          the resolution of child custody problems including  
          visitation disputes, the enforcement of custody decrees,  
          and any other order of the court in a child custody  
          proceeding.  In 1999-2000, the state paid $9.9 million to  
          reimburse their costs.

          Local officials often have ideas that would save money, but  
          the state government does not have an incentive program to  
          encourage them to implement these good ideas.  Recognizing  
          the cost-saving potential in many state-mandated local  
          programs, it may be possible to provide incentives for  
          local agencies to improve efficiency by rewarding them for  
          cost-saving innovations. 

          Existing law establishes specified procedures for local  
          agencies and school districts to file claims with the  
          Commission on State Mandates for reimbursement of  
          state-mandated local programs and for payment of those  
          claims by the Controller.

          This bill establishes a Savings Allocation Program.  The  
          program authorizes a city, county, city and county, special  
          district, or school district when filing a claim, to submit  
          findings to the Controller identifying savings generated  
          from the implementation of either of two specified mandated  
          programs and provides for allocation of the savings by the  
          Controller, as specified.  

          This bill requires the Commission on State Mandates to  
          decide any appeals of the Controller's decision regarding  
          whether or not a savings has occurred.

          This bill requires the Controller to report to the  
          Legislature on or before January 1, 2006, on any savings  
          realized through this program, and repeals these provision  
          on January 1, 2007, unless a later enacted statute extends  
          or deletes that date.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No







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           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  8/22/00)

          California State Association of Counties
          California Municipal Business Tax Association
          League of California Cities

           OPPOSITION  :    (Verified  8/22/00)

          California State Controller

           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    According to Senate Local  
          Government Committee analysis, reducing costs and improving  
          productivity results in increased efficiency and improved  
          local programs.  By recognizing and rewarding local  
          agencies' cost saving activities, this bill provides an  
          incentive that encourages local agencies to come up with  
          creative and innovative cost saving ideas.

           ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION  :    The Controller's office  
          expresses concern as to who is to administer this program.   
          They state:   "All state-mandated cost programs are  
          administered by the Commission on State Mandates in  
          conjunction with local governments.  Even in the bill it  
          says the local governments thought there were areas where  
          they could save costs but there were no incentives to do  
          so.  If we follow the state-mandated costs procedure, the  
          way that this would work is that the local governments  
          would work with the Commission on State Mandates to  
          administer this program.  The Controller's office then  
          would take a look at the savings, audit for the savings,  
          and then make a determination indeed if the savings had met  
          the criteria developed by the Commission on State Mandates.

          We believe that there are cost savings built into this  
          program.  One, that we reimburse for actual costs only for  
          specific reimbursable components.  Secondly, we do audit  
          for excessiveness and we do audit for unreasonableness  
          already.  And we do make disallowances if we do believe  
          that excessive monies have been spent on these programs."

           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :
          AYES:  Aanestad, Ackerman, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn,  
            Baldwin, Bates, Battin, Baugh, Bock, Brewer, Briggs,  







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            Calderon, Campbell, Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Corbett,  
            Correa, Cox, Cunneen, Davis, Dickerson, Ducheny, Dutra,  
            Firebaugh, Florez, Floyd, Frusetta, Gallegos, Granlund,  
            Havice, Honda, House, Jackson, Kaloogian, Keeley, Knox,  
            Kuehl, Leach, Lempert, Leonard, Longville, Lowenthal,  
            Machado, Maddox, Maldonado, Margett, Mazzoni, McClintock,  
            Migden, Nakano, Olberg, Oller, Robert Pacheco, Rod  
            Pacheco, Papan, Pescetti, Reyes, Romero, Runner, Scott,  
            Shelley, Steinberg, Strickland, Strom-Martin, Thompson,  
            Thomson, Torlakson, Villaraigosa, Vincent, Washington,  
            Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Wildman, Wright, Zettel,  
            Hertzberg


          LB:sl  8/22/00   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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