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BA'1 CPR from page 3 .................................................. The commission's role in the reorganization process is only advisory. The commission reviews and submits a report to the govemor and the Legislature within 30 days of the plan being submit- ted to the Legislature. In other words, the commis- sion typically has 60 days to review a plan and complete its report. Chair Marin emphasized that the new organiza- tional structure will continue to cany out the board's functions and mission and will include a public participation process. The Waste Board's website includes a statement by Chair Marin about the impacts of the proposal on the Board's activities. Marin emphasized that stakeholders will have an opportunity for input as the implementation details regarding changes with the Waste Board are worked out, including the planned public participa- tion process. As with plans to abolish or absorb other boards and commissions, she and Undersecretary Branham noted that the original reorganization plans might be modified by the Governor after the Little Hoover Commission's review or could be rejected by the Legislature. Next Steps Both GRP plans will face intense scrutiny, both by the Legislature and the numerous interest groups that have a stake in the individual issues - whether they be California's corrections system or the areas covered by any of the boards and com- missions slated to be abolished or absorbed. At this time, it is not clear what the final outcome will be on either proposal. League staff are currently evaluating the both reorganization proposals and League policy com- mittees will discuss them at their meetings January 20 and 21. This will be a lengthy process and the League will be engaged for the long haul. Stay tuned! ! HOW DOES THE REORGANIZATION PROCESS WORK? One of the best sources for how the state's reorganization process works is information ín- eluded on the Little Hoover Commission's website: www.lhc.ca.Qov. According to information on the Little Hoover Commission website, the California law requires the governor to submit any reorganization plan to the Little Hoover Commission "at least 30 days prior" to submitting the plan to the Legislature. Before submitting the proposal to the commission, the plan must be submitted to Legislative Counsel for drafting into bill language. The commission conducts one or more public hearings, providing a forum for affected agencies, constituencies and interest groups to comment on the proposal. In addition to invited witnesses, the commission hears testimony from other interests or members of the public who would like to testify. The commission assesses the plan based on its broad mandate to assist policy-makers in "promot- ing economy, efficiency and improved service in the transaction of the public business." The commis- sion makes a recommendation to the governor and the Legislature as to whether it believes the reor- ganization plan should go into effect. The commis- sion sometimes offers recommendations for how the plan could be strengthened or measures that should be taken if the plan is implemented. The next step in the process involves the Legislature. According to the Little Hoover Commission's website, a reorganization plan may be delivered to the Legislature at any time during a regular session. The Legislature, however, must have 60 calendar days of a continuous session to consider the plan. The governor's plan becomes effective on the 61 st day after it has been given to the Legislature unless either the Senate or the Assembly adopts by majority vote a resolution rejecting the plan. Actual statutory language to enact the reorganization is processed in the follow- ing year, but the reorganization is effective even without the statutes being on the books. USEFUL UNKS FOR CPR INFORMA T10N . California Performance Review Website: WWW.CDr.ca.OOv. . Little Hoover Commission I nformation on thE Reorganization Process: www.lhc.ca.Qov/ Ihcdir/reorohome/aaro.html . . California Integrated Waste Management Board: www.ciwmb.ca.QOv. Visit the League's Official Web Site .. www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 7