California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: In Committee 2 R cosponsors

AB 554 — Department of Fish and Wildlife: Office of the Ombudsperson.

Last action — From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is administered through the Director of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law vests the department with jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those species. The California Constitution establishes the 5-member Fish and Game Commission, with members appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. Existing law requires the commissioners to annually elect one of their number as president. Existing law requires the commission to formulate the general policies for the conduct of the department and requires the director to be guided by those policies and be responsible to the commission for the administration of the department in accordance with those policies. This bill would establish in the department the Office of the Ombudsperson, administered through the ombudsperson. The bill would require the commission to appoint the ombudsperson and would require the office to operate independently of department staff and to report to the president of the commission. The bill would require the office to undertake specified duties under the supervision of the president of the commission, including working independently as an intermediary to provide individuals with a confidential process to address complaints regarding the department and resolve disputes with the department. The bill would require information provided to the ombudsperson pursuant to the confidential process to be protected as confidential and to be exempt from public disclosure, including, but not limited to, disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Bill Text

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1 line(s) added, 1 removed.

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Action History

  1. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. In committee: Held under submission.

  4. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  5. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 5.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. Coauthors revised.

  7. Referred to Com. on W.,P., & W.

  8. From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

  9. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Mathis

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 8 Yea · 5 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5102
Democratic 2400
Republican 1000
Total 8502
% of votes cast 53%33%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Smith — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Bigelow — Yea
Salas — Yea
Levine — Nay
Friedman — Not Voting
Cristina Garcia — Not Voting
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Nay
Kalra, Ash Democratic Nay
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Nay
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 554 do?
Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is administered through the Director of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law vests the department with jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those species. The California Constitution establishes the 5-member Fish and Game Commission, with members appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. Existing law requires the commissioners to annually elect one of their number as president. Existing law requires the commission to formulate the general policies for the conduct of the department and requires the director to be guided by those policies and be responsible to the commission for the administration of the department in accordance with those policies. This bill would establish in the department the Office of the Ombudsperson, administered through the ombudsperson. The bill would require the commission to appoint the ombudsperson and would require the office to operate independently of department staff and to report to the president of the commission. The bill would require the office to undertake specified duties under the supervision of the president of the commission, including working independently as an intermediary to provide individuals with a confidential process to address complaints regarding the department and resolve disputes with the department. The bill would require information provided to the ombudsperson pursuant to the confidential process to be protected as confidential and to be exempt from public disclosure, including, but not limited to, disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Who sponsors AB 554?
AB 554 is sponsored by Mathis, Choi, Steven S. (Republican), and Gallagher, James (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 554?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 554?
Track AB 554 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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