Legislative Analyst's Office, July 7, 1996

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT
OF THE 1996 BUDGET ACT
1996-97 FISCAL YEAR

CONTAINING STATEMENTS OF INTENT
OR REQUESTS FOR STUDIES
ADOPTED BY THE LEGISLATURE


State and Consumer Services

Item 1700-001-0001--Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Item 1730-001-0001--Franchise Tax Board
Item 1760-001-0602--Department of General Services
Item 1760-001-0666--Department of General Services


State and Consumer Services

Item 1700-001-0001--Department of Fair Employment and Housing

1. Fiscal and Performance Audit. The Bureau of State Audits shall conduct a comprehensive fiscal and performance audit of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), in order to develop recommendations which, if implemented, will improve the DFEH's administrative operations and management of housing and employment discrimination caseload and enable the DFEH to operate more effectively in investigating complaints of housing and employment discrimination. The audit shall be a comprehensive program audit and include, at a minimum, an assessment of (a) the department's organizational effectiveness, (b) housing and employment discrimination caseload management practices, (c) the development of workload standards for housing and employment discrimination cases, and (d) the adequacy of the DFEH's information systems. The Bureau of State Audits shall report its findings and recommendations to the DFEH and the Legislature by January 1, 1997.

Item 1730-001-0001--Franchise Tax Board

1. Computing System Redesign. The Franchise Tax Board shall provide the Legislative Analyst's Office and the appropriate fiscal committees of the Legislature semi-annual reports beginning September 1, 1996 and March 1, 1997 regarding the accrual of tax revenues attributable to the redesign of the Bank and Corporation Tax computing system. The report shall identify: (a) the amount of tax revenue collected that is directly attributable to the system redesign that represents revenue that would have not otherwise been collected, (b) a description of the accounting model used to identify the new revenue collected because of the system redesign, (c) the amount of revenue distributed to the respective vendors, and any amounts deposited in the General Fund, and (d) the actual additional revenue realized solely as the result of the inter face developed to exchange limited partnerships registration information with the Secretary of State. In reporting this information, the board shall note the estimated annual revenue target of $872,400 and explain any difference between actual revenue and the annual targeted amount.

Item 1760-001-0602--Department of General Services

1. Architectural/Engineering Services. The department shall conduct a study to determine the cost effectiveness of contracting out for architectural and engineering services and the appropriate level of architectural and engineering staff over the long-term at the Division of the State Architect. The study shall be submitted to the Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the chairs of the fiscal committees in each house by February 1, 1997.

Item 1760-001-0666--Department of General Services

1. Plan to Reduce Government Paper. The Department of General Services (DGS), in conjunction with the Department of Information Technology (DOIT), shall (a) study means for reducing, through the application of information technology and other methods, the state's costs associated with generating, handling, and maintaining paper records; and (b) not later than December 31, 1996, provide the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) and the budget committee in each house a plan for reducing such costs. The plan shall include specific objectives and a schedule for meeting them.

2. Microwave Equipment Realignment. The DGS and the Department of Finance (DOF) shall not increase the department's baseline budget by $2.2 million for the purposes of replacing microwave equipment.

3. Procurement and Equipment Replacement. It is the intent of the Legislature that the DGS's baseline budget not include an increase of $5.8 million for purposes of procurement and equipment replacement. Additional procurement and equipment replacement shall be justified in the annual budget process.

4. Annual Strategic Telecommunications Plan. The DGS shall fulfill its statewide telecommunications oversight responsibilities by maintaining the annual strategic telecommunications plan required by state law, and include in that plan specific annual objectives for improving the state's application of telecommunications technologies to make government more cost-effective. The department shall coordinate closely with the DOIT and the DOF to ensure implementation of the annual plan, and shall monitor state agency uses of telecommunications to ensure that the uses are consistent with the annual plan.

5. Components of the Annual Strategic Telecommunications Plan. The DGS's annual strategic telecommunications plan shall identify specific long-term goals, policies, procedures, and annual objectives for improving statewide benefits obtainable from (a) CALNET, (b) the capital area fiber optic cable loop, (c) state telephone usage, (d) telecommuting,
(e) videoconferencing, (f) telemedicine, (g) facsimile transmission, and (h) electronic commerce.

6. Telecommunications Services. A state entity not using a telecommunications service offered by the DGS shall not be required to acquire such service from the department unless such usage has been determined to satisfy the state entity's stated service requirements and, also, to be at least as cost-effective as the alternative favored by the state entity requiring telecommunications service. In instances where a state entity prefers to not use the department's telecommunications services, the DOIT shall determine whether the DGS could meet the state entity's service requirements, and the DOF shall determine whether services to be provided by the DGS would be at least as cost-effective as the state entity's preferred alternative. In determining cost-effectiveness, the DOF may consider statewide advantages to requiring a state entity's use of telecommunication services provided by the DGS. In any instance where a state entity is required to use telecommunications services provided by the DGS, in lieu of the state entity's preferred alternative, the DGS shall, within 15 days of receipt by the DGS services, forward to the JLBC the supporting determinations made by the DOIT and the DOF. This provision shall apply only to new or increased uses of DGS telecommunications services, and shall not be used to support any effort on the part of state entities already using the department's telecommunication services, to acquire those services from some other source.

7. Standards for Leased and Purchased Office Space. The DGS shall, in obtaining leased space or renewing existing leases or in purchasing office space, only require building improvements that (a) are specifically required under applicable building codes because of building alterations or (b) are retroactive requirements of the applicable building codes. In purchasing office space, the department shall require a level of structural safety comparable to that which is acceptable for existing state-owned buildings.

8. Cost of Environmental Mitigation. It is the intent of the Legislature that the department report at budget hearings annually on costs of environmental mitigation incurred in the course of accomplishing its statutory mission.

The report should include costs of mitigation as a percentage of total project costs and should identify all fund sources allocated to mitigation costs. Mitigation costs should include items or actions required by federal, state, or local law or regulation. This includes, but is not limited to, studies, surveys, analyses, acquisition of land to provide replacement habitat, costs to complete environmental impact reports or assessments, preparation of plans, site preparation and acquisition of habitat inventory such as elderberry bushes or other vegetation required by the mitigation project. The report should include costs associated with alteration of a project to avoid mitigation. The report should include mitigation cost reimbursements to other departments or governmental agencies.


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