Existing law creates, within the Government Operations Agency, a Chief Equity Officer, who is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor. Existing law requires the Chief Equity Officer to improve equity and inclusion throughout state government operations and authorizes the Chief Equity Officer to engage with state entities for these purposes.

The State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act requires each agency, department, office, or commission for which strategic planning efforts are recommended, as specified, to develop a strategic plan and to report to the Governor and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by April 1 each year on the steps being taken to develop and adopt a strategic plan. The act requires the report to include a description of the elements to be included in the strategic plan, the process for developing and adopting the strategic plan, and the timetable for the plan’s completion.

This bill would additionally require every state agency or department subject to the Governor’s authority to take specified actions in regard to any strategic plan to more effectively advance racial equity, as specified, and to undertake a racial equity analysis before implementing any budget or before any regulation takes effect, by the agency’s or department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion officer or comparable position. If that position does not exist within the agency or department, the bill would require the analysis to be performed by an individual who has demonstrated expertise, and demonstrated satisfaction of appropriate criteria, in specified areas including analyzing, implementing, or developing public policies that impact racial equity.