13073.5
. The Legislature finds and declares that: (1) population
size and distribution patterns in California exert a major influence
on the physical, social, and economic structure of the state and on
the quality of the environment generally; (2) sound and current data
and methods to estimate population trends are necessary to enable
state, regional, and local agencies to plan and function properly;
and (3) there is a critical need for a proper study of the
implications of present and future population trends in order that
state, regional, and local agencies might develop or reexamine
policies and actions based thereon.
The Population Research Unit shall:
(a) Develop basic demographic data and statistical compilations,
which may include a current population survey and a mid-decade
census.
(b) Design and test methods of research and data collection.
(c) Conduct local population estimates as required by law.
(d) Validate all official census data and population statistics.
(e) Analyze and prepare projections of enrollments in public
schools, colleges, and universities.
(f) Analyze governmental records to establish characteristics of
migration and distribution.
(g) Publish annual estimates of the population of the state and
its composition.
(h) Prepare short- and long-range projections of population and
its composition.
(i) Provide advisory services to state agencies and other levels
of government.
(j) Evaluate and recommend data requirements for determining
population and population growth.
(k) Analyze the demographic features of the causes and
consequences of patterns of natural increase or decrease, migration,
and population concentration within the state.
(l) Assess the need for population data required for determining
the allocation of federal, state, and other subvention revenues.
(m) Request and obtain from any department, division, commission,
or other agency of the state all assistance and information to enable
the unit to effectively carry out the provisions of this section.
(n) Cooperate with the Office of Planning and Research with
respect to functions involving mutual areas of concern relating to
demography and state planning.
(o) Enter into agreements to carry out the purposes of this
section, including the application for and acceptance of federal
funds or private foundation grants for demographic studies.
(p) Act as primary state government liaison with the Census
Bureau, United States Department of Commerce, in the acquisition and
distribution of census data and related documentation to state
agencies.
(q) Administer, with other agencies, a State Census Data Center
which will be responsible for acquiring decennial and other census
data from the Bureau of the Census, and for providing necessary
information to the Legislature and to the executive branch and for
seeking to ensure the availability of census information to local
governments. The unit and the Office of Planning and Research shall
be responsible for designating subcenters of the State Census Data
Center as needed. The unit will provide materials to subcenters of
the State Census Data Center, will coordinate the efforts of the
subcenters to avoid duplication and may consult in the design of
standard reports to be offered by the center and its subcenters.
(r) Coordinate with the Office of Planning and Research
Environmental Data Center for the purposes of ensuring consistency
and compatibility of data products, improving public access to data,
ensuring the consistent interpretation of data, and avoiding
duplication of functions.
(s) (1) Determine those census tracts that are to be designated
census tracts based on data from the five-year American Community
Survey (ACS). The census tracts that are within the highest quartile
for both civilian unemployment and poverty statistics, as determined
in paragraphs (2) and (3), shall be determined to be designated
census tracts as described in paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of
Section 17053.73, and paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of Section
23626 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(2) To determine the census tracts that are within the highest
quartile of census tracts with the highest civilian unemployment, the
census tracts shall be sorted by the respective civilian
unemployment rate of each in ascending order, or from the lowest (0
percent) to the highest (100 percent) according to the following:
(A) Census tracts without a civilian labor force shall be
excluded.
(B) After ordering the census tracts by the civilian unemployment
rate of each, the census tracts shall be divided into four equal
groups or quartiles as follows:
(i) The first quartile shall represent the lowest fourth of the
census tracts (the lowest 25 percent, inclusive).
(ii) The second quartile shall represent the second fourth (tracts
greater than 25 percent up to 50 percent, inclusive).
(iii) The third quartile shall represent the third fourth (tracts
greater than 50 percent up to 75 percent, inclusive).
(iv) The fourth quartile shall represent the fourth fourth (tracts
greater than 75 percent up to 100 percent, inclusive).
(C) The last or highest quartile shall represent the top 25
percent of the census tracts with the highest civilian unemployment
rates.
(3) To determine the census tracts that are within the quartile of
census tracts with the highest poverty, the census tracts shall be
sorted by the respective percentage of population below poverty of
each in ascending order, or from the lowest (0 percent) to the
highest (100 percent) according to the following:
(A) Consistent with poverty statistics in the ACS, which adhere to
the standards specified by the federal Office of Management and
Budget in Statistical Policy Directive 14, the poverty thresholds as
specified by the United States Census Bureau shall be used to
determine those individuals below poverty.
(B) To determine those individuals below poverty, different
thresholds, as specified by the United States Census Bureau, shall be
applied to families, people living alone, or people living with
nonrelatives (unrelated individuals).
(C) If a family's total income is less than the dollar value of
the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in
it shall be considered to be below poverty.
(D) If an unrelated individual's total income is less than the
appropriate threshold, then that individual shall be considered to be
below poverty.
(E) Poverty status shall be determined for all people except
institutionalized people, people in military group quarters, people
in college dormitories, and unrelated individuals under 15 years of
age.
(F) Census tracts that do not have a population for whom poverty
status is determined shall be excluded.
(G) After ordering the census tracts by the respective percent
below poverty of each, the census tracts shall be divided into four
equal quartiles as follows:
(i) The first quartile shall represent the lowest fourth of the
census tracts (the lowest 25 percent, inclusive).
(ii) The second quartile shall represent the second fourth (tracts
greater than 25 percent up to 50 percent, inclusive).
(iii) The third quartile shall represent the third fourth (tracts
greater than 50 percent up to 75 percent, inclusive).
(iv) The fourth quartile shall represent the fourth fourth (tracts
greater than 75 percent up to 100 percent, inclusive).
(H) The last or highest quartile shall represent the top 25
percent of the census tracts with the highest percentage of
population below poverty.
(t) (1) Determine those census tracts that are within the lowest
quartile of census tracts with the lowest civilian unemployment and
poverty based on data from the five-year ACS. The census tracts that
are within the lowest quartile for both civilian unemployment and
poverty statistics, as determined in paragraphs (2) and (3) of
subdivision (s), shall be determined to be census tracts within the
lowest quartile of census tracts with the lowest civilian
unemployment and poverty, as applied in subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(8) of subdivision (b) of Section 17053.73 and Section 23626 of the
Revenue and Taxation Code.
(2) Based on the quartiles developed pursuant to paragraph (2) of
subdivision (s), the first or lowest quartile shall represent the
bottom 25 percent of the census tracts with the lowest civilian
unemployment rates.
(3) Based on the quartiles developed pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (s), the first or lowest quartile shall represent the
bottom 25 percent of the census tracts with the lowest percentage of
population below poverty.