Article 2. Purposes And Duties of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 2. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 2.

It is the purpose of the Legislature in creating the commission, to secure assistance for the Governor and itself in promoting economy, efficiency, and improved service in the transaction of the public business in the various departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the state government, and in making the operation of all state departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, and all expenditures of public funds, more directly responsive to the wishes of the people as expressed by their elected representatives, by any or all of the following means:
  (a) By adopting methods and procedures for reducing expenditures to the lowest amount consistent with the efficient performance of essential services, activities, and functions.
  (b) By eliminating duplication and overlapping of services, activities, and functions, and time-consuming or wasteful practices.
  (c) By consolidating services, activities, and functions of a similar nature.
  (d) By abolishing services, activities, and functions not necessary to the efficient conduct of government.
  (e) By the elimination of unnecessary state departments and agencies, the creation of necessary new state departments and agencies, the reorganization of existing state departments and agencies, and the transfer of functions and responsibilities among state departments and agencies.
  (f) By defining or redefining the duties and responsibilities of state officers.
  (g) By revising present provisions for continuing or permanent appropriations of state funds of whatever kind for whatever purpose, by eliminating any such existing provisions, and by adopting new provisions.

The Legislature finds that our system of government is a complex structure of interlocking relationships among all levels of government for managing public funds and programs. Officials and employees who manage and administer these programs must be accountable for their activities to the public. The Legislature recognizes that governmental audits are an important cornerstone in the system of accountability expected by the people of California. One of the most important aspects of public accountability is whether the use of state funds and resources complies with the Legislature's statutory mandates. Under the direction of the Milton Marks "Little Hoover" Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, the State Auditor shall meet the needs of state government for periodic audits of organizations, programs, and services. The State Auditor shall conduct an independent audit for use by the executive and legislative branches of state government to promote sound fiscal and administrative policy for the government of the state, fulfill the condition for the receipt of billions of dollars in federal grant funds, and provide an independent financial audit report that is relied upon by underwriters, bond-rating companies, and potential investors.

The commission, on its own motion, may, for the purpose of making reports and recommendations to assist the Legislature in respect to the matters listed in Section 8521, examine in detail the structure, organization, operation, and functions of every department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch of the state government, and all provisions of law and regulations pertaining thereto, and may examine all present provisions of law pertaining to continuing or permanent appropriations of public funds and the methods used in administering such provisions. The commission may make such recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature at such time, or times as the commission deems necessary.

The commission shall review final reports and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor concerning the results of state audits and the revenues and expenditures of the state, its departments, subdivisions, agencies, and other public entities.

(a) The Governor shall submit to the commission for study and recommendation any reorganization plan which he intends to submit to the Legislature pursuant to authority vested in the Governor by the Legislature under Section 6 of Article V of the Constitution at least 30 days prior to submission of such plan to the Legislature. The commission shall make its report to the Governor and the Legislature within 30 days of the date on which the Governor submits any such plan to the Legislature. The commission may, on its own initiative, undertake a study of any reorganization proposal submitted to the Legislature and make reports to the Governor and the Legislature as it deems necessary.
  (b) Prior to transmittal of a plan to the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy pursuant to this section the Governor shall submit each plan to the Legislative Counsel in order that it may be submitted to the Legislature in the form and language suitable for enactment in the statutes at large. The Legislative Counsel shall prepare a digest of the plan which shall be printed commencing on the first page thereof. It is the intent of the Legislature in requiring the use of statutory format language to insure that reorganization plans submitted to it express clearly and specifically the nature and purposes of the plan.
  (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of this section, the Governor may submit a reorganization plan directly to the Legislature if such plan is substantially identical to a plan previously submitted to the commission during the same legislative session.

The commission may devise a basic test to determine what, if any, governmental activities should be granted continuing or permanent appropriations.

The commission may submit to the Legislature and the Governor, at such time, or times, as the commission deems necessary, interim reports of its activities.