Bill Text: CA AJR31 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Joint Resolution 31 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Natural Resources Conservation Service: appointment of state directors.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-13 - From printer. [AJR31 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AJR31-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Joint Resolution

No. 31

Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis

February 12, 2018

Relative to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AJR 31, as introduced, Mathis. Natural Resources Conservation Service: appointment of state directors.

This measure would urge the President and the Congress of the United States to revise the current hiring process for selecting state directors to serve on the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement an appointment process to allow for the direct appointment of state directors by an appropriate federal government official.

Fiscal Committee: NO

WHEREAS, The state directors of the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are currently selected through a targeted job search and are hired for state director positions by the regional conservationist representing the region in which the state director will serve; and

WHEREAS, Comparable positions in the United States Farm Service Agency and the Office of Rural Development within the United States Department of Agriculture are appointed; and

WHEREAS, There is a value to having individuals serve in appointed positions in government, which allows for more accountability and better representation of local farmers and ranchers; and

WHEREAS, The appointment of state directors to serve on the NRCS will lead to better decisionmaking by involving state directors in the development of policy and programs, provide needed expertise to the agency, and afford ranchers and farmers of the state with effective representation with regard to decisions affecting farming and agricultural practices and resources in the state; and

WHEREAS, Having appointed state directors serve on the NRCS will improve the transparency of the agency, and will make state directors accountable to the residents of the region they represent; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President and the Congress of the United States to revise the current hiring process for selecting state directors to serve on the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service to, instead, implement an appointment process to allow for the direct appointment of state directors by an appropriate federal government official; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.