The California FY21-22 Budget establishes and supports the state’s first-ever Chief Equity Officer within the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), which will build upon and implement the work of the California Leads Taskforce. The Chief Equity Officer will develop a uniform framework for creating equitable policies, practices, and metrics for hiring and procurement. The budget establishes the Racial Equity Advisory Council, which will advise GovOps in developing statewide policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the state workforce. The Administration will continue to work with the Legislature this summer to finalize the creation of the Council.
To further this work, the GovOps agency has also been tasked with creating the first-ever statewide strategic five-year plan to transform government operations.
GovOps conducted a two-and-half day workshop on designing rigorous evaluations in partnership with The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). Eight state teams attended, including groups from multiple entities in California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), the state treasurer, department of motor vehicles, California Department of Transportation (CalTran), Strategic Growth Council, water boards, department of conservation, and the state library. GovOps will use participant survey results to inform future training on evaluation.
The California Governor spoke about the importance of data systems at the inaugural board meeting for the Cradle-to-Career Data system.