Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. In this regard, existing law authorizes GO-Biz to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on new state policies and to provide data, information, and assistance, as specified.

This bill would establish the California Civic Media Program to be administered by GO-Biz in the advancement of specified goals, including enhancing the public good through supporting a robust and dynamic California press corps, as provided. The bill would establish the California Civic Media Fund, as a continuously appropriated fund, and would appropriate $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the California Civic Media Fund, for use by GO-Biz for purposes of the program. The bill would require GO-Biz to direct allocations of public moneys in the fund, and the director of GO-Biz to establish and appoint a 9-person advisory board comprising designated membership to provide recommendations to GO-Biz for the allocation of private moneys in the fund, as specified. The bill would prohibit, in any fiscal year, the total expenditure of public money from the fund from exceeding the total aggregate expenditure of funds from private sources, as provided.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.