Letter urging the Legislature to allow to go into effect Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1979

--- 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 June 11, 1979 Chairman NATHAN SHAPELL Honorable Edmund G. Brown Jr. Beverly Hills Vice-Chairman Governor, State of California RICHARD D HAYDEN Assemblyman, Cupertino ALFRED E. ALQUIST Honorable James R. Mills Senator, San Jose MAURICE RENE CHEZ President pro Tempore, and Members of the Senate Los Angeles JACK R FENTON Assemblyman, Montebello Honorable Leo T. McCarthy DIXON R. HARWIN Speaker, and Members of the Assembly Beverly Hills NANCIE BROOKE KNAPP Los Angeles Pursuant to Section 8525 of the Government Code, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. MILTON MARKS Senator, San Francisco transmitted to the Commission on May 3, 1979 Reorganization Plan No. 1, 1979 JAMES F. MULVANEY for its review, consideration, and recommendation. The plan would transfer San Diego MANNING J. POST the Fair Employment Practices Commission and the Division of Fair Employment Los Angeles Practices from the Department of Industrial Relations to the State and Con- PHILIP J. REILLY Mission Viejo sumer Services Agency. It elevates the Division to Departmental status JEAN KINDY WALKER within the State and Consumer Services Agency. The plan makes no changes Modesto L. H. HALCOMB in the statutory authority or responsibility of the Fair Employment Practices Executive Director Commission and the Division of Fair Employment Practices. The entities would be renamed the Fair Employment and Housing Commission and Department of Fair Employment and Housing, respectively. Each member of this Commission reviewed the proposed plan and background material relative to the reorganization provided by the Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency. On May 29, 1979 the Commission held a public hearing on the reorganization proposal. Testimony was received from the Agency Secretary, the Director of Industrial Relations, the Acting Chief of the Fair Employment Practices Division, and the Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. A statement in opposition to the proposal was received from the State Chamber of Commerce on May 31. The members of this Commission concur that the addition of responsibility for the enforcement of laws prohibiting discrimination in areas other than employment, including housing, services and public accommodations, makes it more appropriate to operate with Departmental status rather than as a Division within a Department concerned only with employment relationships. The new Department will administer all California's civil rights laws. With the condition that this reorganization will not increase either the amount of compensation received by the Fair Employment Practices Commissioners or the level of funding required to operate the newly established Department, the Commission concurs that the proposed reorganization plan is in the public interest and should become law. Accordingly, this Commission urges the Legislature to allow Reorganization Plan No. 1, 1979 to become effective on the date specified by Government Code Section 12080.5. Sincere Chairman