Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Committee History
Scope and Content
Indexing Terms
Related Collections at the California State Archives
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
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