Merit Institute Merit

The California Government Transparency & Performance Act (CA-GT&P)

California state companion to GT&P. Uses Inspector-General independence and performance-standards classifications (no Schedule F analog). Strengthens the California False Claims Act (Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 12650 et seq.) and extends the California Public Records Act.

THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY & PERFORMANCE ACT (CA-GT&P)

Vehicle: State passage. California Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Assembly / Senate Governmental Organization / Appropriations / Public Employment and Retirement.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “California Government Transparency & Performance Act (CA-GT&P).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that the State Civil Service operates under Cal. Const. Art. VII and Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 18500 et seq.; that the California Public Records Act operates under Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 7920.000 et seq.; that the Department of Finance operates under Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 13000 et seq.; that the Legislative Analyst’s Office provides fiscal analysis; and that California enacted the False Claims Act under Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 12650 et seq. This Act extends these frameworks and, in recognition of California’s civil-service merit framework, does not adopt a federal Schedule F analog, but strengthens Inspector General independence and outcome-based program evaluation.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH CALIFORNIA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “DOF” means the Department of Finance.
  2. (b) “Publicly visible outcome” means a metric published under Sec. 201.
  3. (c) “CA-FCA” means Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 12650 et seq.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing California Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Cal. Const. Art. VII; Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 18500 et seq. (civil service).
  • Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 7920.000 et seq. (Public Records).
  • Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 13000 et seq. (DOF).
  • Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 12650 et seq. (FCA).

TITLE II — OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING

Sec. 201. Outcome Metrics for Covered Programs

  1. (a) Each covered program in the Governor’s Budget shall publish at least three outcome metrics.
  2. (b) DOF shall publish the California Outcome Dashboard in machine-readable form.

Sec. 202. Fiscal-Note Outcome Integration

  1. (a) Legislative Analyst’s Office fiscal analyses shall identify outcome metrics from Sec. 201.

TITLE III — INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE (Schedule-F Substitute)

Sec. 301. Office-Level Inspector General Authorities

  1. (a) Agency secretaries shall designate an Office of Inspector General with independent hiring, subpoena, and reporting authority in each cabinet-level agency.
  2. (b) Nothing in this section modifies the State Civil Service merit protections under Cal. Const. Art. VII; OIG personnel are subject to existing State Personnel Board jurisdiction.
  3. (c) OIG shall publish an annual outcome audit for each covered program.

TITLE IV — CALIFORNIA FALSE CLAIMS ACT AMENDMENT

Sec. 401. Credentialing and Outcome-Data Fraud

  1. (a) Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 12650 et seq. is amended to clarify that a person presenting a materially false or fraudulent claim involving CARMC, Federal FRAC, or CA-OBSA outcome data is liable to the State for a civil penalty and treble damages.

Sec. 402. Whistleblower Award

  1. (a) A whistleblower whose information leads to recovery shall receive between 15 and 33 percent of the State recovery under Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 12652, as determined by the Attorney General.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: GT&P. Other California bills: CA-ACSA, CA-MEWRA, CA-AI-Workforce.