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State Legislature Begins Major Reform Effort

(Sacramento) - The first of several joint hearings being held by the Senate and Assembly Select Committees on Improving State Government focused on the legislative and budget processes. Assembly Chair Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Senate Chair Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) led the discussion. Panelists at the first hearing represented elected offices, policy think-tanks, academic institutions and media outlets. Current and former elected officials weighed in on areas of improvement to the Legislature, among them State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, former Assembly Republican leader Robert Naylor and Inspector General Laura Chick. Learn more in this Assembly Web Report video.

WELCOME

Welcome to the legislative web page for reform. The legislature has come together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to launch a real effort to reform California's system of government and make that government work better for the state's people. This reform effort will examine a broad array of ideas aimed at improving government efficiency, transparency, cooperation, and outcomes.



Speaker Karen Bass in the Assembly and Senate Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg in the Senate have appointed Assembly and Senate select committees on Improving State Government. These bipartisan committees will examine a broad array of ideas aimed at improving government efficiency, transparency, cooperation and outcomes.

The committees will hold a series of meetings around the state from October through the new year, and recommend legislation to be acted on in 2010.  Each of these meetings will be open to the public, and your ideas and comments will be integral to the committees' success.  The committes will be seeking input from voters, academics, and institutions both in generating and analyzing reform ideas.  You can submit ideas and comments online here.

Reform will not be easy - worthwhile change rarely is.  But this is a rare moment where public pressure and attention is focused on demanding change in Sacramento.  With your help, this can be an opportunity to improve the functioning of state government, and prepare for the challenges to come.