Bill Text: CA AB2443 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: State government: international relations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2010-09-25 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2443 Detail]
Download: California-2009-AB2443-Enrolled.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2443 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 12, 2010
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 20, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 21, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 7, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 10, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member V. Manuel Perez
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
An act to amend Section 99501 of, to add the heading of Chapter 1
(commencing with Section 99500) to, and to add Chapter 2 (commencing
with Section 99530) to, Title 20 of, the Government Code, relating to
state government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2443, V. Manuel Perez. State government: international
relations.
(1) Existing law, the California International Trade and
Investment Act, identifies the Governor as the primary state officer
representing this state's interests in international affairs, as
specified, and additionally identifies the respective roles of other
specified points of contact within the executive branch. The act
imposes various responsibilities on the state point of contact,
including, among others, serving as the liaison between the state and
the Office of the United States Trade Representative on
trade-related matters.
This bill would additionally require the state point of contact to
provide to specified legislative committees, within 5 business days,
copies of any official position or comments that any entity within
the executive branch of state government provided to the United
States Trade Representative regarding a pending trade agreement.
(2) The California International Trade and Investment Act also
requires the Office of Planning and Research to maintain and update a
full and comprehensive list of all state agreements made with
foreign governments, as specified.
This bill would authorize the Legislature or the Governor to
initiate a Sister State relationship, as defined, with a foreign
nation or jurisdiction within a foreign nation. This bill would make
it the policy of the state to certify and officially recognize Sister
State relationships that satisfy prescribed criteria. The bill would
make the office responsible for certifying Sister State
relationships that satisfy these criteria, and maintaining a list of
these Sister State relationships, as specified.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section
99500) is added to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 2. Section 99501 of the Government Code is amended to read:
99501. (a) (1) The state point of contact within the executive
branch acts, in compliance with federal practice, as the liaison
between the state and the Office of the United States Trade
Representative on trade-related matters.
(2) The state point of contact who, in compliance with federal
practice, receives updates from the federal government on trade
policies, is often provided the opportunity to review and comment on
ongoing trade negotiations.
(b) The state point of contact shall, in addition to any other
duties assigned by the Governor, do all of the following:
(1) Promptly disseminate correspondence or information from the
United States Trade Representative to the appropriate legislative
committees and state agencies and departments.
(2) Work with the Legislature and appropriate state agencies and
departments to review the effects of any proposed or enacted trade
agreement provisions on the state's businesses and workers, its
environment, or its general lawmaking authority, and communicate
those findings to the United States Trade Representative.
(3) Serve as liaison to the Legislature on matters of trade policy
oversight.
(4) Provide to the legislative committees assigned the
responsibility for international trade issues, within five business
days, any official position or comments that any entity within the
executive branch of state government provided to the United States
Trade Representative regarding a pending trade agreement.
SEC. 3. Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 99530) is added to
Title 20 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER 2. SISTER STATE RELATIONSHIPS
99530. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Sister State Relationship Act of 2010.
99531. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
(a) "Sister State" means a foreign nation or particular
jurisdiction within a foreign nation.
(b) "Sister State relationship" means a relationship characterized
by a mutual interest in collaboration and the sharing of information
to further educational, economic, and cultural exchanges between
this state and a Sister State. A "Sister State relationship" shall
not be construed to create any legal relationship between this state
and a Sister State or to impose any legally enforceable duties or
responsibilities on either state. The purposes of a Sister State
relationship may include, but need not be limited to, promoting the
economic growth and well-being of small, medium, and large companies
in both states by increasing their potential for trade and
investment, providing a forum for sustained goodwill and cooperation
between the elected leaders of the states, and promoting bilateral
ties that lead to a more indelible and lasting relationship between
the citizens of the states.
99532. A Sister State relationship may be initiated on behalf of
this state by either of the following methods:
(a) Either house of the Legislature may enact a concurrent
resolution that expresses a desire to enter into a Sister State
relationship with a particular Sister State for the purpose of
encouraging and facilitating mutually beneficial educational,
economic, and cultural exchanges.
(b) The Governor may issue an Executive order that expresses a
desire to enter into a Sister State relationship with a particular
Sister State for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating mutually
beneficial educational, economic, and cultural exchanges.
99533. It shall be the policy of this state to certify and
officially recognize Sister State relationships that demonstrate the
following characteristics:
(a) A mutual interest between the states to enter into a Sister
State relationship. The interest of the State of California shall be
demonstrated by a document described in Section 99532. The interest
of the Sister State shall be demonstrated by a comparable written
document, as determined by the Office of Planning and Research,
issued by the Sister State.
(b) A designation of a contact person in each state who shall be
responsible for developing and implementing sister-state activities,
including a commitment to begin implementation of these activities
within one year of the Sister State relationship being certified
pursuant to Section 99534.
(c) A written specification, preferably in the documents described
in subdivision (a) or a jointly signed letter, that identifies
specific goals and measurable objectives sought to be accomplished
during the term of the Sister State relationship.
(d) An established term for the initial Sister State relationship,
not to exceed four years.
(e) A commitment that the contact person designated pursuant to
subdivision (b) shall prepare and submit to the Office of Planning
and Research, no later than six months after the term of a Sister
State relationship expires, a report that summarizes all known
activities conducted pursuant to the Sister State relationship.
(f) The Sister State does not appear on the United States
Department of State list of countries that condone or engage in
inhumane treatment of individuals, or is not otherwise prohibited
from entering into such a relationship under federal law.
99534. (a) A Sister State relationship that has been initiated
pursuant to Section 99532 shall not be officially recognized or
implemented until it has been certified by the Office of Planning and
Research. The office shall certify a proposed Sister State
relationship that complies with the policies of this state enumerated
in Section 99533.
(b) The Office of Planning and Research shall maintain a list of
all certified Sister State relationships. The list shall be updated
within 30 days of the expiration of the term of each existing Sister
State relationship or the certification of a new Sister State
relationship. The list shall include, at minimum, the following
information:
(1) Identification of the Sister State.
(2) Identification of the certification and termination dates of
the Sister State relationship.
(3) Identification of the designated contact person for each
state.
(4) The specified goals and objectives of the Sister State
relationship.
(c) The Office of Planning and Research shall have the authority
to decertify a previously certified Sister State relationship if the
Sister State subsequently appears on the United States Department of
State list, described in subdivision (f) of Section 99533.
