State and Consumer Services Agency Records, 1989-2004

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Summary

Creators:
State and Consumer Services Agency
Abstract:
The State and Consumer Services Agency oversees a diverse array of state departments and is considered the conglomerate superagency within state government. The records of the State and Consumer Services Agency consist of 95 cubic feet of textual records covering the period 1989 through 2004.
Extent:
95 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the State and Consumer Services Agency consist of 95 cubic feet of textual records covering the period 1989 through 2004. The record group contains two series: Bill Files (1989-2004) and Legislative Proposals (1991-2004). The files include bill analyses, reports, correspondence, memoranda, enrolled bill reports, comments, notes, and bill drafts and reflect the varied legislative interests of the State and Consumer Services Agency. The bill files tracked the majority of the legislation introduced in the legislature from 1989 until 2004. The vast majority of legislation tracked related to consumer, health, and environmental issues. However, several other issues such as firearm safety and building standards were also tracked by the Agency. The depth of this collection provides potential researchers with an alternative avenue to investigate these issues that may be difficult to track otherwise. Since the agency oversees a conglomerate of departments, topics run the gamut from personnel issues, state procurement, retirement concerns, housing and employment discrimination, college and university housing, budget and fiscal concerns, financial privacy, records retention, veterans' issues, environmental and health concerns, permitting and regulating functions of the Department of Consumer Affairs, and a broad variety of other subjects. The records relating to the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) are remarkably detailed and may be of particular interest.

Biographical / historical:

The State and Consumer Services Agency was created in 1977 when it succeeded the responsibilities of the Agriculture and Services Agency (Chapter 1229, Statutes of 1977). The State and Consumer Services Agency oversees a diverse array of state departments and is considered the conglomerate superagency within state government. The agency is under the supervision of the Secretary for State and Consumer Services, who is appointed by the governor and is a member of the Governor's Cabinet. The agency's main responsibility is to provide communication, coordination, and policy guidance between the Governor's Office and the departments within the agency. State departments under the supervision of the agency have included the California Science Center, California Museum of Science and Industry, California African-American Museum, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Fair Employment and Housing Commission, the Office of the State Fire Marshall, the Franchise Tax Board, the Department of General Services, State Personnel Board, Public Employees' Retirement System, State Teachers' Retirement System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Building Standards Commission, Seismic Safety Commission, the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, the Office of Information Security and Privacy Protection, and the Office of the Insurance Advisor, and the California Public Broadcasting Commission.

Effective in 2013, Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2 (Statutes of 2012) shifted the responsibilities of all of the various departments of SCS to other agencies. The newly formed Government Operations Agency now administers: Department of General Services, CalPERS, CalSTRS, Franchise Tax Board, and Victims Compensation and Government Claims Board. Departments focused on California's history were moved under the Natural Resources Agency: California African American Museum, California Science Center, and Exposition Park.

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the State and Consumer Services Agency Records according to state law.
Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
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