BILL ANALYSIS
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|Hearing Date:June 26, 2006 |Bill No:AB |
| |3021 |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Senator Liz Figueroa, Chair
Bill No: AB 3021Author:Nunez
As Amended: April 6, 2006 Fiscal: Yes
SUBJECT: California - Mexico relations.
SUMMARY: Establishes the California-Mexico Border
Relations Council comprised of all agency secretaries and
the Director of the Office of Emergency Services to
coordinate all border activities of state agencies.
Existing law:
1)Establishes the office of California-Mexico Affairs and
places the operations of the California Office of
Southwest Border Regional Conference within this office.
2)Assigns the former duties of the Commission of the
Californias to the office of California-Mexico Affairs.
3)Generally charges the office of California-Mexico Affairs
with furthering and developing favorable economic,
educational and cultural relations with bordering Mexican
states and other U.S. border states.
4)Recognizes California's participation in the California
Office of Southwest Border Regional Conference (formerly
commission) which was established as a part of a joint
American border states effort to further and develop
favorable relations with Mexican border states.
5)Generally provides for additional programs administered
by various state agencies regarding issues of concern
between California and Mexico.
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This bill:
1)Would establish the California-Mexico Border Relations
Council, with membership consisting of all agency
secretaries and the Director of Emergency Services.
Would establish the Secretary for Environmental
Protection as the chair of the Council.
2)Would direct the Council to coordinate and establish
policies to coordinate all cross-border activities within
state government in order to improve coordination of
programs and information sharing among agencies.
3)Requires the Council to make recommendations to the
Legislature on improving coordination.
4)Requires the Council to report to the Legislature
annually on the Council's activities beginning January 1,
2008.
5)Defines the following terms:
a) "Border" means the line of demarcation between
California and Mexico.
b) "Council" means the California-Mexico Border
Relations Council.
c) "Public agency" means a city, county, city and
county, district, or the state or any agency or
department of the state.
6)Makes the following findings and declarations:
a) The California Research Bureau recently identified
in its "Inventory of Mexico Related Projects Conducted
by California State Agencies," more than 100 programs,
initiatives, projects, and partnerships that exist
within state government and are administered by 12
departments and agencies, eight boards and
commissions, and various campuses of the University of
California, the California State University, and the
California Community Colleges.
b) Programs generally fall into the areas of trade,
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immigration, environment, energy, transportation,
health, homeland security, agriculture, education, and
tourism.
c) The Office of California-Mexico Affairs was
previously housed within the Technology, Trade, and
Commerce Agency, which no longer exists. Therefore,
the office is not active in coordinating these
programs.
d) The State Water Resources Control Board directs the
state's border environmental efforts through its
Border Environmental Program. The program is a
collaborative effort that includes the California
Environmental Protection Agency, other state agencies,
the State of Baja California, and tribal nations
located along the border region. All California
Environmental Protection Agency boards, departments,
and officers actively participate in the program to
ensure that environmental issues are addressed on a
multimedia basis.
e) There is a need to develop a state government
structure that will provide effective coordination of
various state agency efforts, as well as a thoughtful
and collaborative assessment of current and future
program development that will serve the needs of both
California and Mexico in the 21st century.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, annual General Fund cost of about $100,000 for
one position to support the work of the council.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose. According to the Author, neither the Commission
on the Californias nor the California Office of Southwest
Border Regional Conference within the Office of
California-Mexico affairs includes in their membership
any of the heads of the agencies or department that
administer the various cross-border programs. The Author
argues, that despite the numerous programs and
initiatives amongst various agencies, no entity exists to
coordinate or collaborate on the programs or provide for
any information sharing.
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2.Background. The U.S. and Mexican economies have become
increasingly integrated, particularly since the 1994
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This
integration has brought California and Mexico both
opportunities and challenges, most notably in the areas
economic development, labor relations, health care, and
environmental protection. Numerous programs at various
levels of state government have been established to
address these issues.
The Office of California-Mexico Affairs (office) was
initially created in 1982. The office oversaw the
activities of the former Commission of the Californias
(Commission) and currently is charged with overseeing the
California Office of the Southwest Border Regional
Conference (Conference).
The Office was part of the Technology, Trade and Commerce
Agency, and lost its funding and positions when that
Agency was eliminated by Chapter 229, Statutes of 2003.
The general charge of the Commission, prior to
elimination, and the current charge of the Office and the
Conference is to develop favorable economic, educational,
and cultural relations with Baja California, Baja
California Sur and territories with the Republic of
Mexico and coordinate with other American boarder states.
The Office is charged with serving as a clearinghouse for
information and assistance to other state agencies which
are involved with Mexico.
Last year, the Governor's California Performance Review
proposed both the Office and Commission for elimination
from statute. The approved 2005-06 budget eliminated the
Commission, but retained the Office. Committee staff
understands that the Office of California-Mexico Affairs
is not active in coordinating programs today.
3.Related Legislation.
AB 2399 (Garcia, 2005-2006, Sen Business, Professions and
Economic Development) Would require the Secretary of
Business, Transportation and Housing (BTH) to prepare and
provide to the Legislature a study on infrastructure
development along the California - Mexico border and to
report whether there is a need for alternative financing
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mechanisms.
AB 1395 (Nunez, 2005-2006 Session, Vetoed by Governor)
Would have required the Secretary of Environmental
Protection and the Secretary of Business, Transportation
and Housing to develop and coordinate a strategic plan,
and make recommendations regarding an appropriate
governance structure for California-Mexico relations.
SB 772 (Ducheny, 2005, Chapter 214, Statues of 2005)
Requires the California Integrated Waste Management
Board's waste tire five-year plan to incorporate
information on border region activities on waste tires.
AB 1183 (Ridley-Thomas, 2003-04, Held in Asm.
Appropriations) Would have required BTH to conduct a
feasibility study on the establishment of a California
and Mexico Border Economic Infrastructure Financing
Authority.
SB 865 (Polanco, 2001-02, Held in Asm. Appropriations)
would have established a California and Mexico Border
Infrastructure Financing Authority within the State
Treasurer's Office. The bill was held on the Assembly
Committee on Appropriations' Suspense File.
SB 207 (Peace, 1999-00, Chapter 773, Statutes of 1999)
permits establishment of Infrastructure Financing
Districts along the California-Mexico border.
SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:
Support: None on File.
Opposition: None on File.
Consultant: Laura Metune