EXECUTIVE ORDER S-02-09

WHEREAS Congress passed, and on February 17, 2009, President Obama signed, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a $787 billion plan to create jobs, get the economy going again and make significant improvements to the nation's infrastructure; and

WHEREAS a prime focus of my administration has been on economic stimulus, job creation and rebuilding California's infrastructure to ensure long-term growth and global competitiveness; and

WHEREAS pursuant to ARRA, California stands to receive billions of dollars in new federal funds and tax benefits for education, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency, housing, health and human services, transportation, science and technology, unemployment assistance and various other areas; and

WHEREAS these federal funds will add to the billions of dollars Californians have already committed to rebuilding the State's infrastructure through their approval of the Strategic Growth Plan and $52 billion in infrastructure bonds in 2006 and 2008; and

WHEREAS California, along with the rest of the nation, is suffering from a deep recession; and

WHEREAS California has been hard hit by the national housing slump, losing more than 100,000 jobs in the construction and financial activities sectors over the past year, and foreclosure rates in California are among the highest in the nation; and

WHEREAS investment on infrastructure is a proven method of stimulating the economy, creating an estimated 18,000 jobs for every $1 billion spent and laying the foundation for future economic growth; and

WHEREAS it is in California's best interest to ensure that ARRA is implemented quickly and efficiently and that its funds are deployed on the most meritorious projects to ensure the greatest stimulus effect; and

WHEREAS a series of policy groups within my administration have been working for months to help optimize California's ability to use ARRA to spur economic activity; and

WHEREAS reporting requirements associated with ARRA properly require a high degree of accountability and transparency and the public should have easy access to information about how their tax dollars are being spent.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the State of California, hereby direct:

1.    The director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research to create and lead the Federal Economic Stimulus Task Force (California Recovery Task Force).

2.    The Task Force shall include the following members of my administration: Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Finance; Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Finance; Chief Information Officer; Director of the Governor's Constituent Affairs office; Chief Deputy Director of Communications. The Task Force will also include top ranking members of state agencies and departments as determined by the director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

The Task Force shall do the following:

1.    Take the lead responsibility for helping to ensure that our state receives the optimal benefit from ARRA and that its funds are deployed strategically and in a manner consistent with federal requirements.

2.    Establish a systematic method for collecting, creating standards for and centrally locating all information regarding the uses, status, outcomes and accountability of ARRA funds that will be coming to California.

3.    Ensure public accessibility to information about the programs funded under ARRA, provide transparency in their implementation and conduct auditing and accountability of public funds.

4.    Establish inter-agency agreements within state government or pursue legislation, or both, to ensure necessary resources are provided for Task Force operations consistent with its goals and mission.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the agencies and departments under my direct executive authority shall cooperate in the implementation of this Order.

This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, officers, employees, or any other entity or person.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given to this Order.