California State Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee records, 1978-2000
Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Assembly Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee and Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee
- 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).
- Extent:
- 33.25 cubic feet
- Language:
- Languages represented in the collection: English
Background
- 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.
- Biographical / historical:
-
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
- Speier, Jackie (Dem.), 1991-1994
- Morrissey, Jim (Rep.), 1995-1996
- Davis, Susan Alpert (Dem.), 1997-2000
- Acquisition information:
- 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.
- Physical location:
- California State Archives
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
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1020 "O" StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 653-2246