AB 1113

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law designates 8 agencies in state government and requires the secretary of an agency to be generally responsible for the sound fiscal management of each department, office, or other unit within the agency. Existing law further requires the secretary of an agency to, among other duties, continually seek to improve the organization structure, the operating policies, and the management information systems of each department, office, or other unit. This bill would establish the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs as an agency within state government, to be headed by a secretary who is appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation. The bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to incorporate future and existing programs created to assist immigrants and refugees into the office. The bill would transfer the property of any office, agency, or department that relates to functions transferred to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs by these provisions to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and would transfer the unencumbered balance of any appropriation and any other funds that were available for use in connection with any function transferred to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. The bill would create the Immigrant and Refugee Integration Fund in the state treasury, and make the moneys available in the fund available to the secretary of the office to administer the duties of the office. This bill would establish the duties and responsibilities of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, which includes, among other duties, establishing a permanent structure within the state to serve immigrants, assisting other state agencies in evaluating their programs for accessibility and effectiveness in providing services to immigrants and refugees, and recommending policy and budget mechanisms for meeting immigrant and refugee integration goals. Existing law establishes the Statewide Director of Immigrant Integration and requires the director serve as the statewide lead for the planning and coordination of immigrant services and policies in California. Existing law requires, among other things, that the director develop a comprehensive statewide report on programs and services that serve immigrants, develop an online clearinghouse of immigrant services, resources, and programs, and monitor the implementation of statewide laws and regulations that service immigrants. This bill would rename the director as the Statewide Director of Immigrant and Refugee Integration. The bill would require the director to report to the Governor and the Legislature on programs and services that serve immigrants and refugees by January 1, 2021, and require the director to provide a statewide plan for better implementation and coordination of immigrant and refugee assistance policies and programs. The bill would require the director to incorporate refugee services, resources, and programs into the online clearinghouse by January 1, 2021 and would require the director to monitor statewide laws and regulations that service refugees, in addition to immigrants.