Local Enforcement Agency Correspondence

California Performance Review

Date: August 4, 2004

To: All Local Enforcement Agencies

This all LEA e-mail is being sent on behalf of the LEA Support Services Branch of the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB). 

As you may be aware the California Performance Review (CPR) report was released yesterday and is available on the California Performance Review's website at http://report.cpr.ca.gov/ (see the Cal/EPA CPR website for specific information that relates to the CIWMB and an online comment form). The CPR report represents a series of recommendations to the Governor on making state government more efficient. It contains many significant proposed changes to state government, including substantial changes to the organization of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and our constituent Boards, Departments, and Office (BDOs). The CPR report is a first step in creating a plan to make government more efficient. It does not represent a proposal from the Governor or the Administration.

Background: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the CPR initiative at his Jan. 6 State of the State address, where he called for "a total review of government--its performance, its practices, its cost." A team of more than 275 state workers who had been borrowed from their respective agencies to work on the CPR team, academics and public policy experts were assembled to complete the review of all state agencies and programs. The CPR staff was divided into 14 teams. These teams examined the key functional areas of government as well as issues that cut across all government operations and functions. After completing their review, CPR is making more than 1,000 recommendations for the Governor’s consideration covering 279 issue areas and with the potential of saving the state $32 billion over the next 5 years. It is reported that the CPR review team is calling for state government to be shrunk by 12,000 workers and the elimination of 118 state boards and commissions and, in most cases, shifting their duties to the executive branch. It is stated that CPR proposes to make government more accountable by centralizing decision-making in the governor's office. The review team was led by Billy Hamilton, who headed up a similar initiative in Texas, and Chon Gutierrez, interim director of the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Quick Look At the Report

Reported highlights of recommendations from the California Performance Review:

• Eliminate 118 of 339 boards and commissions, including the Air Resources Board
• Collapse 11 existing agencies and 79 departments into 11 departments, each with several divisions
• Reduce projected 2009-10 state work force by 12,000
• Increase the number of toll roads
• Join a multistate lottery to provide more money for education
• Eliminate county superintendents of school and county school boards
• Require public college and university students to perform community service
• Phase out subsidy program for elderly and disabled

Next Steps: 

1.  Public Hearings: The Governor established a new commission of 21 state legislators, public officials, academics and political supporters who will hold five public hearings around the state to gather input on the CPR proposals and summarize the results in a second report to the governor. The 21-member commission will hold its first public hearing on Aug. 13 at UC Riverside. The next hearing is scheduled for UC San Diego on Aug. 20; then Cal State Fresno on Aug. 27; San Jose State on Sept. 10; and Cal State Long Beach on Sept. 17.

2.  Little Hoover Commission: After the CPR commission has conducted its series of public hearings, they will propose implementation of some or all of the CPR recommendations. To implement any reorganization proposals, the Governor can use the “executive reorganization” process. This process begins with the Governor’s submittal of a reorganization plan to the Little Hoover Commission. The Little Hoover Commission will examine the plan and report its recommendations to the Legislature.  

3. Legislature: Thirty days after submission to the Little Hoover Commission, the Governor may submit the reorganization plan to the Legislature. The reorganization plan would become effective on the 61^st calendar day of continuous session of the Legislature after the date on which the plan is submitted to the Legislature or at a later date that is identified in the plan. The plan goes into effect unless either house passes a resolution disapproving the reorganization plan within the 60-day calendar period. If the plan goes into effect, the Legislative Counsel prepares, within 90 days, a bill effecting the statutory changes. Actual implementation of an approved reorganization proposal could be as soon as fiscal year 2005-06.

Your Role: All input is welcome and crucial to this process. We all have a deep interest in serving the public by protecting public health and safety and the environment,  with the most efficient and effective State government possible. There are several avenues provided for you to submit your recommendations, concerns and suggestions: the CPR website facilitates input and you may make your suggestions anonymously; and public hearings are being held throughout the state to encourage all participation. 

Questions? See the Cal/EPA CPR website.

Thank you,
Melissa Hoover-Hartwick
LEA Support Services
(916) 341-6813