Chapter 2. Powers of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 2.5. >> Chapter 2.

The secretary of each agency has the power of general supervision over, and is directly responsible to the Governor for, the operations of each department, office, and unit within the agency.

The secretary of each agency shall advise the Governor on, and assist him in establishing, major policy and program matters affecting each department, office, or other unit within the agency, and shall serve as the principal communication link for the effective transmission of policy problems and decisions between the Governor and each such department, office, or other unit.

The secretary of each agency shall exercise the authority vested in the Governor in respect to the functions of each department, office, or other unit within the agency, including the adjudication of conflicts between or among the departments, offices, or other units; and shall represent the Governor in coordinating the activities of each such department, office, or other unit with those of other agencies, federal, state, or local.

The secretary of each agency shall be generally responsible for the sound fiscal management of each department, office, or other unit within his agency. He shall review and approve the proposed budget of each such department, office, or other unit. He shall hold the head of each such department, office, or other unit responsible for management control over the administrative, fiscal, and program performance of his department, office, or other unit. He shall review the operations and evaluate the performance at appropriate intervals of each such department, office, or other unit. He shall seek continually to improve the organization structure, the operating policies, and the management information systems of each such department, office, or other unit.

The Secretary of the Health and Welfare Agency shall review and evaluate the systems within the agency for the payment and computation of benefits, insurance, and subvention moneys. The secretary shall determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the payment systems, whether the payment systems are consistent and compatible, and whether adequate fiscal accountability exists.

Each secretary shall develop and report to the Governor on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, coordinated planning and policy formulation in the matters of public interest related to his agency. To accomplish this end, the secretary may hold public hearings, consult with and use the services and cooperation of other state agencies, employ staff and consultants, and appoint advisory and technical committees to assist in the work.

For the purpose of administration, the secretary of each agency shall review the organization of the agency and report to the Governor on such changes as he deems necessary properly to segregate and conduct the work of the agency.

The secretary of each agency and any other officer or employee within the agency designated in writing by the secretary shall have the power of a head of a department pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 11180) of Chapter 2 of Part 1.

Whenever a power is granted to the secretary of an agency, the power may be exercised by such officer or employee within the agency as designated in writing by the secretary.

For the purpose of this chapter, "agency" means the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Natural Resources Agency, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Government Operations Agency, the Transportation Agency, or the Corrections and Rehabilitation Agency, and "secretary" means the secretary of any such agency.

(a) The Governor, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing, may appoint up to three deputies for the secretary.
  (b) In addition to any other provision of law, the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing may appoint an assistant, who is exempt from the civil service laws. The secretary shall prescribe the duties of the appointed assistant and shall fix the salary of such assistant subject to the approval of the Director of Finance. The appointed assistant shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.