Inventory of the California State Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee Records

Processed by Michelle Wallen

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the California State Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee Records

Collection numbers: See series descriptions for LP numbers

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Michelle Wallen
Date Completed:: November 2009
Encoded by:: Michelle Wallen

Descriptive Summary

Title: California State Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee records

Dates: 1978-2000

Collection numbers: See series descriptions for LP numbers.

Creator: Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee

Creator: Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee

Collection Size: 33.25 cubic feet

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: The Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee records consist of approximately 33.25 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records covering the years 1978-2000. This includes records from its predecessor, the Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee. The records are organized into four series: Bill Files (1989-2000), Hearing Files (1989-1994), Subject Files (1992-1995), and Report Files (1978-1987).

Physical location: California State Archives

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], [Name of Committee] Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

The State Archives received these records in accordance with California Government Code 9080(b) which requires legislative committees to transfer their records to the State Archives when they are no longer needed by the committee.

Committee History

The Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee is the most recent committee to oversee Department of Consumer Affairs occupational licensing, governmental organization and cost control, state procurement and printing contracts, weights and measures, product labeling, and various regulatory agencies, boards, and commissions.

This committee's predecessor, the Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee, was created on January 16, 1987 by House Resolution 3. It combined two previous committees, the Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Cost Control and Assembly Consumer Protection Committees. It focused largely on issues related to state contractors, weights and measures, and professional licensing.

As the Assembly entered the 1990s the role of technology in government and consumer affairs was becoming much more prominent. Although a separate Assembly committee existed to oversee technology and economic development, it was decided that these topics were now more closely related to the efficiency of government and consumer protection. Therefore, on January 18, 1991, House Resolution 7 combined the Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee and the Assembly Economic Development and New Technologies Committee to create the Governmental Efficiency, Consumer Protection, and New Technologies Committee. Just a few days later, on January 28, 1991, House Resolution 9 was unanimously passed, which renamed this committee as the Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee.

Although "technology" was no longer in the committee's title, it continued to focus on the relationship of new technologies with efficiency and economy in state government. Beginning in the 1993-1994 session with SB1737, the committee attempted to address the so-called "Y2K" issue that had recently become a concern. Online identity theft became an important subject as well, as shown by AB859 from the 1999-2000 session. In addition to technology the committee also dealt heavily with occupational licensing and public works contracts at this time. They also passed several bills to support small business owners in becoming economically successful.

This committee lasted until the 1999-2000 session, after which it became clear that technology and economic development were issues large and important enough to deserve their own committees. Consequently, after 2000, the committee became known as the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, which returned to the original committee's focus of occupational licensing, state contracting, and consumer affairs boards.

The chairs of the committee from 1987-2000 were:

Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee, 1987-1990

Areias, Rusty (Dem.), 1987-1988
Eastin, Delaine (Dem.), 1989-1990

Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee, 1991-2000

Speier, Jackie (Dem.), 1991-1994
Morrissey, Jim (Rep.), 1995-1996
Davis, Susan Alpert (Dem.), 1997-2000

Scope and Content

The Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee records consist of approximately 33.25 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records covering the years 1978-2000. This includes records from its predecessor, the Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee. The records are organized into four series: Bill Files (1989-2000), Hearing Files (1989-1994), Subject Files (1992-1995), and Report Files (1978-1987).

Bill files comprise the largest series in the collection at about 31.5 cubic feet. They document the bills directed to the committee and include committee analyses, letters from interested parties, and comments of affected agencies. These files show the close involvement of the committee in such issues as state agency efficiency, business licensing, consumer affairs (particularly in the field of automotive repair), regulation of commercial sales, Internet safety, small business growth, and bidding for state contracts. Of particular importance in the later sessions is the use of technology in state government and methods for avoiding identity theft. A majority of the bill files relate to oversight of the licensing boards of a variety of professions, including contractors, funeral directors, engineers, architects, land surveyors, geologists and geophysicists, cosmetologists, and real estate appraisers.

The hearing files make up about 1 cubic foot of the collection and include several audiotapes in addition to the textual records. Popular subjects include contractors, licensing, state agency efficiency, and state land contracts. Many of the hearings are not focused on a particular topic but instead cover a number of bills or subjects. Other hearings are on such topics as state consumer boards and bureaus, Contractor's State License Board oversight, funeral and cremation services, sexual harassment in state agencies, unsafe vehicles, and a variety of other topics.

Subject files make up the smallest portion of the collection at less than half a cubic foot. This series contains videocassette tapes concerning such topics as car leasing, family law, and AIDS in black communities. Other subject files include correspondence, reports, publications, press releases, and committee notes related to business licensing, sexual harassment, and the Driver's Privacy Protection Act. There are also detailed investigative documents on Carl Covitz, Secretary of the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency.

The final series, Reports, consists of about 1.5 cubic feet and includes correspondence, analyses, publications, reports, and notes related to select Department of Consumer Affairs boards and other consumer affairs issues. Examples of topics include contractors, cosmetology, geologists and geophysicists, tax preparers, automobiles, and funeral directors and embalmers.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

California. Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development

California. Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection

Small business

Government contractors

Related Collections at the California State Archives

Delaine Eastin Papers

Jackie Speier Papers

Jim Morrissey Papers

Susan A. Davis Papers

Assembly Consumer Protection and Toxic Materials Committee Records

Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee Records

Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Cost Control Committee Records

Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Economy Committee Records

Assembly Labor, Employment, and Consumer Affairs Committee Records

Senate Governmental Efficiency Committee Records

Department of Consumer Affairs Records

State and Consumer Services Records

LP147:176-217, LP262:191-218, LP263:1-25, LP304:49-494

Series 1 Bill Files 1987-2000

Physical Description: 531 file folders

Alternative Form of Materials Available

Microfilm copies of bill files are available for the years 1987-1988 where indicated with MF before the LP number.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files created by the Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, letters of support or opposition, author's statements, newspaper clippings, correspondence, committee statements, and other information. Of particular interest are those bills relating the oversight of the licensing boards of a variety of professions, including contractors, funeral directors, engineers, architects, land surveyors, geologists and geophysicists, cosmetologists, and real estate appraisers.

Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee, 1987-1990

1987-1988: AB16-AB4034 (18ff) MF LP262:191-218

1987-1988: AB4047-AB4653, ACR15-ACR65 (6ff) MF LP263:1-6

1987-1988: SB24-SB2871, SCR68 (19ff) MF LP263:7-25

1989-1990: AB4-AB4357, ACA13-ACA39, ACR67-ACR151, AJR29-AJR72 (29ff) LP147:176-204

1989-1990: SB10-SB1470, SCA23 (13ff) LP147:205-217

1989-1990: SB1492-SB2888, SCR19-SCR88 (18ff) LP304:49-66

Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee, 1991-2000

1991-1992: AB2-AB3821, ACR96, AJR77, AB45x (38ff) LP304:67-104

1991-1992: SB8-SB2044, SCR39-SCR83, SJR53 (18ff) LP304:105-122

1993-1994: AB11-AB3821, ACR46-ACR96, AJR61-AJR91, AB2x (76ff) LP304:123-198

1993-1994: SB42-SB2104, SCR45, SJR15 (35ff) LP304:199-233

1995-1996: AB23-AB3502, ACA11, AB5x (38ff) LP304:234-271

1995-1996: SB1-SB2104, SJR18 (23ff) LP304:272-294

1997-1998: AB19-AB2813, ACA27-ACA35, HR58 (54ff) LP304:295-348

1997-1998: SB107-SB2239 (56ff) LP304:349-404

1999-2000: AB75-AB2890, ACA8-ACA24, AJR45-AJR46 (54ff) LP304:405-458

1999-2000: SB27-SB2123, SCA9 (36ff) LP304:459-494

LP304:495-518

Series 2 Hearing Files 1989-1994

Physical Description: 24 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of hearing.

Access Information

Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.

Scope and Content Note

Hearing files created by the Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee and its predecessor may include agendas, transcripts, testimony, background, and working files for regular session hearings as well as informational and oversight hearings. Audiotapes and videotapes have been separated to a cold-storage vault for preservation purposes and separation sheets are in the hearing files to alert the researcher to the existence of these tapes. Popular subjects include contractors, licensing, state agency efficiency, and state land contracts. Many of the hearings are not focused on a particular topic but instead cover a number of bills or subjects.

For a list of hearing dates and topics, see Appendix A in in Additional Series Information.

Additional Series Information

Appendix A: List of Hearing Files

LP304:519-526

Series 3 Subject Files 1991-1995

Physical Description: 8 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject files created by the Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee may include correspondence, reports, publications, press releases, and committee notes related to business licensing, sexual harassment, and the Driver's Privacy Protection Act. Of particular note are detailed investigative documents on Carl Covitz, Secretary of the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency. Videotapes have been separated to a cold-storage vault for preservation purposes and a separation sheet is in the subject file to alert the researcher to the existence of these tapes.

AIDS in the Black Community, undated (1ff, 1 videotape) LP304:519

Business Licensing, 1992 (2ff) LP304:520-521

Car Leasing, 02/15/1995 (1ff, 1 videotape) LP304:522

Carl Covitz, 1992 (1ff) LP304:523

Family Law Evaluator, 07/28/1994 (1ff, 1 videotape) LP304:524

Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act, 1994-1995 (1ff) LP304:525

Sexual Harassment, 1991-1992 (1ff) LP304:526

LP304:527-553

Series 4 Reports 1978-1987

Physical Description: 27 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by report title.

Scope and Content Note

Report files created by the Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee include correspondence, analyses, publications, newspaper clippings, and notes related to select Department of Consumer Affairs boards and other consumer affairs issues. Examples of topics include contractors, cosmetology, geologists and geophysicists, tax preparers, automobiles, and funeral directors and embalmers.

Accountancy, 1984-1985 (1ff) LP304:527

Architects, 1978-1987 (2ff) LP304:528-529

Automotive, 1985-1987 (3ff) LP304:530-532

Bureau of Collection and Investigative Services, 1983-1986 (2ff) LP304:533-534

Bureau of Electronic Appliance Repair Dealers, 1987 (1ff) LP304:535

Consumer Affairs, 1987 (1ff) LP304:536

Contractor's State License Board Orientation Package, 1985 (1ff) LP304:537

Contractors, 1978-1987 (6ff) LP304:538-543

Cosmetology, 1978-1987 (1ff) LP304:544

Employment Agency, 1985-1986 (1ff) LP304:545

Funeral Directors and Embalmers, 1979-1985 (1ff) LP304:546

Geologists and Geophysicists, 1986 (1ff) LP304:547

Home Furnishing and Thermal Insulation, 1982 (1ff) LP304:548

Landscape Architects, 1981-1987 (1ff) LP304:549

Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors, 1983-1987 (1ff) LP304:550

Structural Pest Control Board, 1983-1987 (2ff) LP204:551-552

Tax Preparers, 1984-1987 (1ff) LP304:553