The 2022-23 Budget: Office of Planning and Research Budget Proposals

The 2022-23 Budget: Office of Planning and Research Budget Proposals FEBRUARY 2022 Summary. This budget post describes the diverse population, the state carries out a number Governor’s 2022-23 budget proposals for the of outreach campaigns. Most of these programs Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and competitively award grants to community-based provides comments and recommendations to organizations (CBOs) and other trusted messengers the Legislature. to communicate state messages locally or regionally using various media and, often, in various BACKGROUND languages. Examples include: The OPR has responsibilities pertaining to • 2020 Census. To raise awareness of the state planning, California Environmental Quality importance of participating in the 2020 Act (CEQA) assistance, and environmental and Census, the state appropriated $187.2 million federal project review procedures. Additionally, the for outreach activities targeting hard-to-count Strategic Growth Council, California Volunteers, households. The California Complete and the California Initiative to Advance Precision Count Census Office coordinated the Medicine (CIAPM) have been assigned to OPR communications effort. The Census Office’s for oversight purposes. The budget for OPR activities included strategic communications in includes 18 budget change proposals. We assess each of the target audiences’ languages and these proposals and provide comments and building partnerships with local governments recommendations in this post. and CBOs who could conduct or manage outreach in collaboration with the state. CREATE AN OFFICE OF California’s final self-response rate was COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND 69.6 percent, which was an improvement over the state’s 68.2 percent self-response rate STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS for the 2010 Census and the national average of 67 percent. An independent evaluation of Background the outreach program concluded that Census Public Outreach to Some Communities partnerships expanded and strengthened More Difficult Than Others. Some groups and community collaboration and helped to communities are more difficult to reach than increase the organizational capacity of others when raising public awareness about its partners. public health issues, educational resources, or • Pandemic-Related Public Health. other important matters such as the decennial In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census. In some cases, hard to reach groups have California Department of Public Health (CDPH) linguistic or cultural barriers that require customized is administering many public awareness communications approaches. Other groups may campaigns on testing and vaccination topics. have a distrust for public agencies and could be CDPH outreach includes regular surveys; more receptive to a message that they receive from focus groups; social media campaigns; and a community leader or another trusted messenger. communications toolkits about a wide range of State Has Launched a Number of Outreach COVID-19-related issues, such as farmworker Campaigns in Recent Years. To facilitate the safety and holiday gatherings. spread of important information across the state’s 2022-23 Budget Series 1 • Human Services Programs. The Department these activities. For this reason, there could be of Social Services (DSS) conducts public benefits from designating a single entity to focus on outreach activities to increase participation maintaining a statewide network of CBOs and other in some human services programs, such trusted messengers, managing communications as CalFresh. For example, when the grant programs, and coordinating interagency state expanded CalFresh eligibility, DSS expertise and resources. For example, the administered a multilingual marketing designated entity could develop a statewide portal campaign. DSS also provides public outreach to advertise funding opportunities and accept grant materials for use by counties to increase applications. Further, the entity could merge and CalFresh enrollment and to encourage continue to develop the data, marketing materials, healthy behaviors, such as shopping at and local relationships with CBOs that have been farmer’s markets. assembled by the agencies conducting outreach • Economic Relief Programs. To raise activities to date. awareness of the Golden State Stimulus …Unclear Whether Proposal Addresses (GSS) and the California Earned Income Tax This Need. The OPR proposal is conceptual and Credit (CalEITC) programs, the Franchise Tax lacks detail, so we cannot assess how effectively Board, in partnership with the Department of it would address this need. Should the Legislature Community Services and Development (CSD), agree that some action in this area is necessary, award grants to CBOs for education and we suggest it weigh several key considerations outreach activities. These include spending on discussed below. advertising and media campaigns, distribution Key Considerations of printed materials, and neighborhood canvassing. An evaluation of the CalEITC • Is OPR Best Situated to Administer? public outreach efforts found that none of While the Governor has proposed to locate the outreach efforts had a measurable effect this function in OPR, this choice is not driven on the number of households filing taxes and by any of its statutory responsibilities. The claiming the CalEITC. Legislature could consider an alternative, such as the Government Operations Agency Governor’s Proposal (GovOps). GovOps has experience with public Governor Proposes to Create New Office outreach, having overseen the 2020 Census of Community Partnerships and Strategic outreach effort. Further, as GovOps mission is Communications (OCPSC). The Governor’s not necessarily focused on a particular public budget includes $65 million General Fund in policy area, it may be more neutral about 2022-23 and ongoing to create and implement which topics to focus on. the new OCPSC. The purpose of OCPSC would • What Amount of Ongoing Staff and be to manage the state’s highest-priority public Funding Would Be Necessary? The awareness and community outreach campaigns. $65 million request lacks a clear and detailed The intent of the proposal is to formalize the justification and it does not discuss staffing outreach and communications activities that needs. A mature proposal would include a were developed during the 2020 Census and the detailed justification for all ongoing funding COVID-19 pandemic. and position authority. While the proposal generally describes the various activities that LAO Assessment might be funded, it does not provide a specific The Administration Identifies a Legitimate justification for the need of each activity and Need… The state has a number of disparate why ongoing funding would be appropriate. efforts to raise awareness of critical issues across We are skeptical that ongoing funding in this state government, as described above. There is amount would be necessary. Rather, we would no single entity that coordinates or standardizes suggest only providing administrative funding 2022-23 Budget Series 2 on an ongoing basis and providing one-time oversees the program—and therefore current funding for other specific initiatives, such as outreach activities—now? If not, how would marketing campaigns and outreach grants, the new entity coordinate its activities with so that the amounts of funding and allocation the similar activities of these other agencies priorities could change with the state’s needs to share information and avoid duplication over time. of effort? • How Would the Legislature Oversee the New Office? Increased communications CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS spending may not have a significant incremental benefit. We suggest planning Background how best to evaluate the effectiveness of the AmeriCorps Is A National Service Program. community partnership and communications AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency activities while developing the proposal that coordinates and provides federal funding to ensure that appropriate resources are for a network of local, state, and national service provided and the necessary data will be programs to meet community needs in education, collected and evaluated. The plan should the environment, public safety, health, and include (1) transparent accounting of which emergency response. AmeriCorps members serve organization are receiving funding and the in full- or part-time positions with nonprofits or populations reached, and (2) assessments of public agencies over a period of up to one year. the effectiveness of the outreach activities. Some members receive a modest hourly stipend or • How Would Communications Priorities annual living allowance (depending on the terms of Be Set? The proposal would focus on the their program) and other benefits, such as health state’s highest-priority public awareness insurance during their service and funds to help pay and community outreach campaigns. for college. There are about 64,000 AmeriCorps While the proposal specifically identifies members nationally. California has the largest state outreach efforts related to the Census and program, with about 4,500 members. the COVID-19 pandemic, how the new entity AmeriCorps Foster Grandparent (FG) and would determine the state’s highest-priority Senior Companion (SC) Provide Service communications needs in any given year Opportunities for Older Adults. FG engages is unclear. volunteers age 55 and over to serve in communities • How Would Proposed Entity Coordinate as role models, mentors, and friends to children. In With Other State Agencies? How the new 2020, AmeriCorps provided more than $8.2 million entity would coordinate its activities with in federal funds to 16 FG projects in the state those state agencies that currently house involving about 1,500 volunteers. SC engages the relevant policy expertise is unclear. For volunteers to assist and provide companionship for example, how would the new entity coordinate people who have difficulty with daily living tasks. In with CDPH public health experts if it assumed 2020, AmeriCorps provided more than $2.3 million responsibility for COVID-19-related public in federal funds to 14 SC projects in the state awareness campaigns? Several other state involving 760 volunteers. agencies, such as CSD and DSS contract California Volunteers Administers the with many of the same organizations that California AmeriCorps Programs. Each state is also participate with the state’s 2020 Census required under federal law to create and appoint outreach and COVID-19-related public a commission to administer the AmeriCorps awareness campaigns. Would the scope of programs. California Volunteers serves this purpose the proposed new entity include the other in the state, coordinating state funds and private ongoing public outreach activities, such as donations to match federal funds for the state’s those for CalEITC and CalFresh? If so, what AmeriCorps programs. would be the role of the department that 2022-23 Budget Series 3 Disaster Response and Recovery. Governor’s Proposals California Volunteers also is tasked with coordinating Proposes $10 Million Ongoing General Fund volunteer activities related to disaster response and to Expand Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program. recovery. Following the catastrophic 2018 wildfires, This proposal would significantly expand the the Legislature appropriated $30 million to Neighbor-to-Neighbor program that was established California Volunteers to bolster statewide disaster during the pandemic. Funding would be allocated resilience in coordination with the California Office as follows: of Emergency Services. California Volunteers • $1.5 Million for Program Staffing. Eight new responded very broadly to the COVID-19 pandemic. permanent California Volunteers staff, including The 2021-22 budget package included $127.5 million three at the deputy director level, would federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funds and administer the expanded Neighbor-to-Neighbor $18.8 million General Fund for a new college service program. These individuals would coordinate program and $15 million federal ARP Act funds for a program recruitment, training and technical new youth workforce development program. These assistance, marketing, data collection, monthly programs engage AmeriCorps members in pandemic progress reporting, and the local assistance response activities, such as staffing food banks and grant program. Three regional coordinators vaccination clinics, and pandemic recovery activities would support the local community that widely vary based on local community needs. volunteer organizers and their projects and Climate Action Corps Established to Respond volunteer activities. to Climate Change. The California Climate Action • $1 Million for Training. California Volunteers Corps was established through executive action staff would provide virtual, recorded, and in 2020. The Climate Action Corps provides in-person trainings for the neighborhood AmeriCorps service opportunities to respond to leaders. Neighborhood leaders are volunteers climate change, such as urban greening and wildfire who would organize and engage around prevention home hardening. The 2021-22 budget 10 to 20 other volunteers in their community. package included $4.7 million one-time General Initially, the training would focus on specific Fund to expand the Climate Action Corps program activities regarding COVID-19 recovery and and fund stipends and administrative costs through disaster preparedness. California Volunteers 2023-24. This provided 236 service opportunities also would provide instructions on how to in the summer of 2021 and 50 full-time service set up volunteer networks and organize opportunities for the 2021-22 year. Climate neighborhood projects and activities. Action Corps received 562 applicants for the summer program and 285 applicants for the full-time program. • $5 Million for Outreach Marketing. California Volunteers proposes to increase the number California Volunteers Also Operates Other of neighborhood leaders to 1,000 from the Volunteerism Initiatives. California Volunteers also current 50. To increase awareness about the operates programs directly to increase awareness program and to recruit volunteers, California of volunteer opportunities in the state that are not Volunteers would develop a robust marketing associated with AmeriCorps programs. For example, campaign using social media platforms, California Volunteers expanded the scope of the such as Facebook and Ring Neighborhoods, Californians For All campaign to respond to needs and provide communications support to identified during the COVID-19 pandemic, including neighborhood leaders. direct outreach to recruit volunteers for food banks and vaccinations sites. One of these new initiatives • $1.5 Million for Digital Infrastructure. was Neighbor-to-Neighbor, in which California California Volunteers would develop a digital Volunteers partnered with the Nextdoor social media platform to distribute training materials and platform to directly engage people who wanted to to facilitate communication and information check-in on and offer aid to their neighbors during sharing between California Volunteers, the pandemic. neighborhood leaders, and other volunteers. 2022-23 Budget Series 4 • $1 Million for Local Assistance Grants. Scope of Neighbor-to-Neighbor Proposal California volunteers would award four Outside California Volunteer’s Statutory $250,000 grants to CBOs to support Responsibilities. The role of California Volunteers neighborhood leaders in recruiting participants in statute is to administer the state AmeriCorps and promoting local activity. programs and coordinate disaster response and recovery efforts with other state agencies. Proposes $10 Million One Time to Expand FG California Volunteers traditionally has served these and SC Programs. The requested funding would roles by making grants to those nonprofits and be used to expand the capacity of Area Agencies CBOs that apply for funding for their AmeriCorps on Aging—a public or nonprofit agency designated service programs. Local governments, nonprofits, by the state to address the needs and concerns of and other CBOs traditionally have been responsible all older persons at the regional and local levels—to for advertising all of their other service needs, increase the number of AmeriCorps FG and SC recruiting volunteers, and managing service projects. California Volunteers would competitively projects. As described above, the current award one or more grants to Area Agencies on Neighbor-to-Neighbor program somewhat Aging that apply for funding to administer FG and expanded the scope of California Volunteers to SC projects. include direct outreach, recruitment, and training Proposes $3.86 Million to Establish Climate of volunteers. While, this expansion could possibly Action Corps Permanently. The Governor be consistent with California Volunteer’s disaster proposes to establish the California Climate Action response and recovery responsibilities, this budget Corps permanently. This proposal is for $3.86 million proposal would significantly expand the program, General Fund for 2024-25 and ongoing. on an ongoing basis, beyond disaster response and recovery. LAO Assessment Increased State Role Directly Managing Legislature Lacks Information About Volunteerism Is Not Justified. California’s Newer Programs. As the state agency providing local governments, nonprofits, and CBOs oversight of the AmeriCorps programs, California have a great deal of experience in developing Volunteers collects data on the Climate Action service opportunities and recruiting, training, Corps program. The participation in and outcomes and managing volunteers. The longstanding of the Climate Action Corps program will be model of California Volunteers supporting—and evaluated following the end of its initial three-year not duplicating—these organizations’ efforts is period. The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program is not reasonable and appropriate. The administration an AmeriCorps program but California Volunteers has not articulated a clear and compelling need for has developed a plan to collect extensive data to the state to provide the various new coordination, support the programs’ objectives, provide monthly outreach marketing, and training services proposed progress reports, and other program evaluations. by the Neighbor-to-Neighbor proposal. The However, at this time, California Volunteers has Legislature should ask California Volunteers to only provided anecdotal information about the explain what aspects of volunteerism in the state initial outcomes of these newer programs. We are not working well and how this proposal would recommend that California Volunteers; the Board specifically address those needs. of Commissioners; and its independent nonprofit organization, the California Volunteers Fund Benefits of FG and SC Programs Well (which receives private sector donations), should Documented. The AmeriCorps FG and SC be required to prepare an annual report that programs were established in 1973 and are provides an accounting of all its activities, volunteer evaluated on a three-year cycle. Recent studies membership, and financial statements. This report show that these programs expand service should be provided to the fiscal committees of both opportunities to diverse groups of participants. houses of the Legislature and made readily available Participants reported fewer symptoms of on its website. depression and feeling less socially isolated. 2022-23 Budget Series 5 Further, expanding the number of FG and SC biomedical research. OPR, in collaboration with service opportunities likely would be consistent with the University of California (UC)San Francisco, the state’s Master Plan for Aging by increasing the issued a call for proposals to UC campuses. Two number of opportunities to volunteer. demonstration projects—California Kids Cancer California Climate Action Corps Funding for Comparison at UC Santa Cruz and Precision AmeriCorps Grant Cycle. California Volunteers Diagnosis of Acute Infectious Disease at UC San requests funding for the Climate Action Corps Francisco—were awarded funding. OPR also program in 2024-25 in this budget cycle so that it developed an inventory of data, research, experts, can demonstrate the state’s funding commitment to and other resources related to precision medicine this program when it applies for continued federal to facilitate cooperation in precision medicine AmeriCorps funding in spring 2023. While ongoing research. The Legislature provided $10 million funding for this program likely would strengthen in one-time funding for precision medicine the application, it seems premature. Should research again in 2016-17 and 2017-18. The the Legislature support the efforts of California 2018-19 budget provided an additional $30 million Volunteers to enhance its AmeriCorps application in one-time funding for precision medicine for this program with a firm funding commitment, research. In 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, we would recommend instead providing another $18.2 million of this amount was redirected to other round of temporary funding (through 2026-27). The budgetary needs. The 2021-22 budget restored Legislature should plan to review the outcomes and $12.4 million in funding to OPR for precision effectiveness of the Climate Action Corps program medicine research to specifically address Adverse in several years, when more information is available. Childhood Experiences. Governor’s Proposals CALIFORNIA INITIATIVE TO Proposes $10 Million One-Time General Fund ADVANCE PRECISION MEDICINE for Depression Research. This funding would provide grants to precision medicine research Background projects focusing on depression. These precision “Precision medicine” is a developing approach medicine research projects would be located in the health sector that takes into account an in California. Funded institutions would need to individual’s genes, environment, and lifestyle for provide in-kind contributions to cover indirect disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. costs. CIAPM would require the research teams to Federal Precision Medicine Initiative and All partner with a nonprofit community organization, of Us Research Program. In 2015, the federal patient organization, or county institution that government established the Precision Medicine provides support to people with depression. Initiative, which combines efforts of various Funding would prioritize research projects that federal agencies to further precision medicine support progress in providing solutions for and allocated $215 million for precision medicine disproportionately underserved areas. The intended research. A precision medicine advisory committee outcome of this funding would be new tools for subsequently advised the director of the National preventing, diagnosing, measuring, and treating Institutes of Health (NIH) on the collection and use depression, using precision medicine methods, of genomic data. Their recommendations led to the that are appropriate and effective across the state’s All of Us Research Program, which is building a diverse communities. diverse database of genomic and health data to help Proposes $9.25 Million One-Time General advance precision medicine biomedical research. Fund to Increase Diverse Participation in All of Us intends to gather health data from more Biomedical Research Projects. This proposal than one million people across all backgrounds. would create a network of ten state agencies and State Funding for Precision Medicine. The eight nongovernmental agencies to raise awareness 2014-15 Budget Act made a one-time appropriation of and participation in research among groups of $3 million to OPR to fund precision medicine 2022-23 Budget Series 6 that are underrepresented in biomedical research treating inflammatory diseases, or improving our studies. The goal is to sustainably increase the understanding of the effects of wildfire smoke on number of participants from underrepresented health. Justifying the allocation of state funding backgrounds who are recruited, enrolled, and for specific precision medicine research topics retained in biomedical research studies. Diverse over other research areas or general funding participation in these studies could improve the for academic research is difficult absent an quality of both that research and the information overarching framework. available to nationwide precision medicine CIAPM Claims Its Research Influences databases. The funding would support the costs National Research Funding Priorities. of meetings for the various partners, to produce The administration justifies continued state funding promotional products, and to hold promotional for biomedical research despite the concerns we events. Promotional products would be translated raise above because they believe that the NIH into at least one other language. research funding priorities in precision medicine somehow lag social needs. For example, CIAPM LAO Assessment claims that funding for depression research is State Spending Is Modest Compared to Other necessary because of the increased prevalence Sources of Biomedical Research Spending. of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. California’s academic and research institutions However, CIAPM did not provide a clear gap conduct a wide variety of research with the potential analysis. CIAPM claims that they can demonstrate to improve Californians’ health and wellbeing. to the NIH what types of research in this area are Most of the state’s research institutions, including possible. While state-directed research might UC, receive a majority of their direct funding for influence federal decision makers, there could be research from federal, private, and other nonstate other ways for researchers in California to influence sources. The administration has never clearly NIH research priorities, such as by participating in demonstrated that the available federal resources advisory bodies. for precision medicine research are inadequate. Proposal to Increase Diverse Participation Administration Has Provided More Details in Biomedical Research Projects May Have Than Previous Requests for Funding... Merit. The network of state agencies and their Previous precision medicine proposals often lacked partners requesting funding to increase the number important details. We credit the administration of diverse participants in biomedical research for submitting precision medicine proposals that previously applied for, but did not receive, funding provide significantly more information about the for this proposal from the NIH All of Us Initiative. goals and objectives of the research and how CIAPM noted that successful proposals mostly grants would be awarded. were submitted by national organizations and …However, Unclear How Administration coalitions, whereas this proposal is specific to Determines Funding Priorities. Despite additional California. While this proposal could duplicate detail provided by the administration, we find it national precision medicine data collection efforts challenging to evaluate the proposals because the in some ways, its focus on California suggests it state does not have a framework for prioritizing may have merit. Some groups have been historically the allocation of General Fund monies across underrepresented in biomedical research and this various research topics. There is no framework to has led to documented health disparities. California justify why the state should now direct research has diverse demographics that are different from towards another new topic area (depression) over other parts of the country and this proposal could any of the several prior focus areas of CIAPM, benefit statewide public health goals by ensuring such as developing a better understanding of that the diverse communities in California are disparities in cancer risk, or other important well represented in the federal All of Us research biomedical research questions, such as developing database system. tools to better diagnose autism, preventing and 2022-23 Budget Series 7 CALIFORNIA EDUCATION the administration, CELL managed this reduction by awarding less money for grants, supporting LEARNING LAB AND GOLDEN less professional development, and delaying STATE AWARDS development of its “best of” library. Background Governor’s Proposals State Has Provided Higher Education Proposes $30 Million One-Time General Innovation Awards. In every budget cycle from Fund for New Round of Innovation Awards. 2014-15 to 2020-21, Governors have proposed The Golden State Awards initiative would support one-time grant initiatives to support innovative at least 20 awards to individuals or teams at, practices at the state’s public higher education or associated with, the public higher education institutions that improve student outcomes. segments who have developed or are developing The Legislature approved these initiatives in innovative practices. Unlike past innovation award some years and rejected them in other years. programs, this initiative not only would aim to Key characteristics of the approved initiatives improve student outcomes but also could cover have varied. For example, in some years the grant any activity deemed innovative and high impact, initiatives rewarded higher education institutions for including, but not limited to, programs that improve existing programs, while in other years the grants student outcomes, research on climate change, supported new approaches. Some of the initiatives and research on low-carbon industries. CELL would supported programs at all of the higher education administer the grant program, with oversight from segments, while others were targeted at specific a 12-member grant selection committee, with segments (such as the community colleges) or 10 members appointed by the Governor, 1 member specific regions (such as the San Joaquin Valley by the President pro Tempore of the Senate, and Inland Empire). Some grants were allocated and 1 member by the Speaker of the Assembly. through a special committee, whereas others were CELL would have three years to award the funds allocated by state agencies. and would be required to report by January 1, 2026 California Education Learning Laboratory on how the awards were allocated. (CELL) Supports Development of Online Proposes $3 Million Ongoing General Fund Higher Education Courses. Created in 2018-19, for CELL. Of this amount, $2 million would restore the purpose of CELL is to expand lower-division CELL’s ongoing base to its pre-pandemic level online and hybrid courses in science, technology, of $10 million. According to the administration, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the this restored base would allow the program to state’s three public higher education segments. offer more grants, support more professional The program accomplishes this objective primarily development, resume efforts to develop its “best by awarding competitive grants to intersegmental of” library, and host intersegmental convenings faculty teams, which in turn develop the online on effective pedagogical practices. The remaining content. Beyond awarding grants for new online $1 million would support the expansion of a free courses, state law allows CELL to undertake other adaptive learning homework system. The existing actions to support instructional best practices, such system, which was developed by faculty at as supporting faculty professional development and UC Davis, CSU San Bernardino, and Mendocino developing a “best of” library of online materials. College for introductory chemistry, was supported State Reduced Funding to CELL During by a one-time CELL grant. According to CELL Pandemic. The 2018-19 budget provided staff, the ongoing funding would enable faculty to $10 million ongoing General Fund to OPR to expand the system for more chemistry courses and support CELL. As part of its package of budget STEM subjects, as well as improve the system’s solutions in 2020-21, the state reduced ongoing current functionality. support for the program to $8 million. According 2022-23 Budget Series 8 LAO Assessment LEGISLATIVE AND Innovation Awards Have Unclear Statewide ADMINISTRATIVE PROPOSALS Benefit. Past innovation award initiatives have We do not have comments on or concerns with had a few basic shortcomings—all of which also the following budget change proposals: apply to the Governor’s new award initiative. • Extend and Re-Appropriate Funding for One shortcoming is the initiative would provide Climate Change Research. Proposes to relatively large sums to a small number of recipients extend and re-appropriate $4.75 million without any clear mechanism for disseminating Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) best practices. A related shortcoming is that appropriated in 2019 for the Climate the initiative is unclear in how selected activities Research Program. would be sustained and scaled, in turn potentially creating considerable future cost pressure for • Extend Funding for Market Development the state. A third shortcoming is that the added for Woody Biomass. $4 million one-time value of rewarding existing activities potentially General Fund over two years: $2 million in begun without state direction, funding, or reporting 2022-23 and in 2023-24 to expend pilot is questionable. program adopted in 2021. Proposed Award Initiative Lacks Focus. • Support California Jobs Plan Act Though innovation award initiatives by design are of 2021. Proposes $574,000 GGRF problematic, the Governor’s proposal is especially and one position ongoing to support concerning given its broad scope ranging from the California Air Resources Board with higher education to climate change to any other workload related to the implementation of area of interest to the administration. This lack Chapter 746 of 2021 (AB 680, Burke). The new of focus almost certainly would undermine the position would coordinate across agencies initiative’s ability to meaningfully impact any one and update guidelines, provide technical area. The broad scope also means the program assistance materials, improve application likely overlaps with other existing state efforts. processes, and provide technical assistance For example, the state has funded research on for applicants to meet the new labor standards climate-related issues through other programs for the program. and departments. • Tribal Affairs: Truth and Healing Council. Reject Golden State Awards. Given its $450,000 Environmental License Plate Fund fundamentally poor design, we recommend the for three years to support the California Legislature reject the proposed $30 million General Truth and Healing Council as part of the Fund and redirect the funds toward other high package to establish the Governor’s Office of one-time priorities. Tribal Affairs. Assessment of Ongoing CELL Funds • Proposes $438,000 Ongoing General Fund Forthcoming. On January 26, the administration for Legislative Workload. This proposal provided our office additional information on the would fund two new positions to support proposed $3 million ongoing General Fund for bill analysis workload across OPR and its CELL. Our office is still reviewing this information programs such as California Volunteers and and we plan to release our assessment later this the Strategic Growth Council. The Governor budget cycle. and the Legislature have continued to expand OPR’s responsibilities. Currently, OPR has only one full-time staff dedicated to legislative workloads. The additional staff would assist in the preparation of bill analyses and in responding to legislative inquiries. 2022-23 Budget Series 9 • CEQA Workload (AB 819). Proposes • Climate and Wildfire Workload. Proposes $374,000 General Fund and one position to $219,000 General Fund and one position modernize the CEQA filing process and other ongoing to support workload related to several responsibilities related to the implementation new laws enacted last year. of Chapter 97 of 2021 (AB 819, Levine). While • Affordable Rental and Owner-Occupied this legislation initially was not expected Housing (AB 1095). Proposes $158,000 to have significant implementation costs, General Fund and one position ongoing the California Department of Technology to support new workload related to the subsequently identified additional implementation of the Affordable Housing and necessary expenses. Sustainable Communities Program pursuant • Clean Energy Package Implementation to Chapter 355 of 2021 (AB 1095, Cooley). (AB 525). Proposes $354,000 General Fund one time for technical assistance to support a study of supply chain, economic development strategies, and workforce development assessments to meet the requirements of Chapter 231 of 2021 (AB 525, Chiu). 2022-23 Budget Series 10 2022-23 Budget Series 11 LAO PUBLICATIONS This post was prepared by Brian Weatherford, and reviewed by Brian Uhler and Carolyn Chu. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) is a nonpartisan office that provides fiscal and policy information and advice to the Legislature. 2022-23 Budget Series 12