SACRAMENTO – The most comprehensive overhaul of state government in
decades became official today following legislative approval of Governor
Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s Reorganization Plan. The Governor’s plan, which
will be implemented over the next year, cuts the number of state
agencies from 12 to 10 and eliminates or consolidates dozens of
departments and entities.
“This far-reaching plan will make government more effective and will reduce wasteful spending,” said Governor Brown.
Currently, many unrelated departments – like Caltrans, the Department of
Real Estate and the Department of Financial Institutions – are housed
together, while many related programs are scattered throughout different
agencies. In many cases, departments and programs are duplicative. The
Governor’s plan changes the reporting relationships of dozens of
entities to improve coordination and efficiency. This will ultimately
make government more responsive to the public.
Upon implementation, five existing state agencies will be replaced by the following three:
• The Government Operations Agency, which will be responsible for
administering state operations, such as procurement, information
technology and human resources;
• The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, which will be
responsible for licensing and oversight of industries, businesses and
other professionals; and
• The Transportation Agency, which will align all of the state’s transportation entities.
In May, Governor Brown’s plan was unanimously approved by the Little
Hoover Commission, the state’s top independent government oversight
body. The plan was then sent to the Legislature for review. Without a
vote to reject the plan by a majority vote of either house, the plan
became effective today.
Governor Brown’s plan becomes operative on July 1, 2013 and the
administration will be working closely with agencies, departments,
boards and commissions on its implementation in the months ahead.
According to the Little Hoover Commission, the Governor’s plan
represents the most ambitious of the 36 reorganizations they have
reviewed since 1968.
A summary of the plan can be found here. The plan in full can be found here.
