Letter recommending the Legislature allow Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1979 to go into effect

--- Page 1 --- EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor STATE OF CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON CALIFORNIA STATE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND ECONOMY 11th & L BUILDING, SUITE 550, (916) 445-2125 SACRAMENTO 95814 Chairman NATHAN SHAPELL Beverly Hills January 24, 1980 Vice-Chairman RICHARD D. HAYDEN Assemblyman, Cupertino ALFRED E. ALQUIST Senator, San Jose MAURICE RENE CHEZ Los Angeles Honorable Edmund G. Brown Jr. JACK R. FENTON Assemblyman, Montebello Governor of California DIXON R. HARWIN Beverly Hills NANCIE BROOKE KNAPP Honorable James R. Mills Los Angeles President pro Tempore of the Senate. MILTON MARKS Senator, San Francisco and to Members of the Senate JAMES F. MULVANEY San Diego Honorable Leo T. McCarthy MANNING J. POST Los Angeles Speaker of the Assembly, and to PHILLIP J. REILLY Mission Viejo Members of the Assembly RICHARD S. TRUGMAN Beverly Hills JEAN KINDY WALKER Modesto Pursuant to Section 8525 of the Government Code, Governor Edmund G. L. H. HALCOMB <b>Executive Director</b> Brown Jr. transmitted to the Commission on December 20, 1979 Reorganization Plan No. 3, 1979 for review, consideration and recommendation. The plan would consolidate the state's youth and adult correctional programs in a new Youth and Adult Correctional Agency. This agency would consist of the Department of Corrections, Department of Youth Authority, Board of Prison Terms, Youthful Offender Parole Board, Board of Corrections, Correctional Industries Commission, Institutional Review Board and the Narcotic Addict Evaluation Authority. These bodies are presently budgeted for a total of $476 million and 12,577 staff-years. The new Agency would be headed by a Secretary appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. The Secretary would hold office at the pleasure of the Governor. Upon recommendation by the Secretary, the Governor would be empowered to appoint two deputies to the Secretary. Under the plan, the Agency Secretary would also serve as the Chairperson of the Board of Corrections. Each member of the Commission reviewed the plan and background material relative to the reorganization provided by the Governor's Office and the current Chairperson of the Board of Prison Terms, who is also the Governor's nominee for Secretary of the proposed Agency. On January 10, 1980, the Commission conducted a public hearing on the reorganization proposal. Testimony was received from the Governor's Legal Affairs Secretary, Chair- person of the Board of Prison Terms, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the American Justice Institute and representatives of the California Probation, Parole and Correctional Association, California State Employees' Association and the California Correctional Officers Association. Testi~ mony received at that hearing uniformly supported the concept of consoli- dating state correctional programs under a single specialized organizational housing. The California Correctional Officers Association, however, expressed the opinion that it would be more appropriate for such an organi- zation to report to the Attorney General rather than the Governor. The --- Page 2 --- -2- others who testified supported the plan proposal to have the Agency report to the Governor. They argued that the problems facing correctional programs de- serve the attention of a cabinet-level officer and that cabinet status would provide a stronger base for the Agency in dealing with budgetary and correc- tional problems. Chapter 1252 of the Statutes of 1977 required that the Department of Corrections and Youth Authority be removed from the Health and Welfare Agency as of July 1, 1979. Subsequently, the Governor issued Executive Order B-56-79 which designated that those departments continue to report to the Governor through an interim liaison officer. The Governor has now concluded that "...the responsi- bilities and problems faced by the various departments and boards providing correctional services are so unique and sensitive as to warrant establishment of an independent Youth and Adult Correctional Agency to supervise the adminis- tration of all State correctional programs." The Commission concurs in that assessment. The Governor's 1980-81 Budget allots 5.6 staff-years and $238,512 for operation of the new Agency office. This allotment appears reasonable. Having duly considered the proposal, the Commission urges the Legislature to allow Reorganization Plan No. 3, 1979 to become effective on the date specified by Government Code Section 12080.5. Sincerely Chairman .