Administrative Procedure Act: Office of Administrative Law: director.
If enacted, AB 916 will clarify the authority of the director of the Office of Administrative Law, allowing the director to employ and set compensation for necessary professional, clerical, and other staff. This change is intended to enhance the operational effectiveness of the office, ensuring that it can adequately implement its regulatory oversight functions. Moreover, this amendment reflects an ongoing effort to streamline governmental processes and improve the efficiency with which state agencies handle regulatory actions.
Assembly Bill 916, introduced by Assembly Member Davies, aims to amend Section 11340.3 of the Government Code, which pertains to the governance of the Administrative Procedure Act. This act is central to the procedures by which state agencies can adopt, amend, or repeal regulations, as well as the review of these regulatory actions by the Office of Administrative Law. The primary intent of AB 916 is to implement a nonsubstantive change within the provisions of this section.
While the text of AB 916 appears noncontroversial and primarily administrative, there may be underlying implications concerning the balance of power and accountability in state governance. The focus on the director's authority to manage personnel could raise discussions about the accountability of regulatory oversight and the potential for increased bureaucratic authority. However, there is currently no major opposition noted within the legislative discourse surrounding the bill, emphasizing a broad consensus on the need for operational clarity within the state's regulatory framework.