Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: California Civic Media Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the $10 million will be allocated among different projects or organizations.

California Civic Media Program

The California Civic Media Program, run by GO-Biz, aims to support local news and media in California through a new fund.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the California Civic Media Program within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to enhance public information and support local journalism.
• Creates the California Civic Media Fund with $10 million from the state budget for financial aid to media projects that serve the public interest.
• Requires GO-Biz to set up a 9-person advisory board to provide recommendations on how to allocate both public and private money in the fund.
• Limits the amount of public money spent each year so it does not exceed the total amount of private donations received.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local news organizations that receive funding from the California Civic Media Fund.
• The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) which will manage the program and fund.
• Taxpayers who contribute to the state budget, including the General Fund.

Terms To Know

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

The office that helps the Governor with economic strategy and business development in California.

California Civic Media Program

A program created to support local news media and improve public information through financial aid.

Limits and Unknowns

• It is not clear how the $10 million will be specifically allocated among different projects or organizations.
• The bill does not specify what happens if private donations do not meet the required amount to match public spending in a fiscal year.

Official Summary Text

SB 155, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: California Civic Media Program.
Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. In this regard, existing law authorizes GO-Biz to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on new state policies and to provide data, information, and assistance, as specified.
This bill would establish the California Civic Media Program to be administered by GO-Biz in the advancement of specified goals, including enhancing the public good through supporting a robust and dynamic California press corps, as provided. The bill would establish the California Civic Media Fund, as a continuously appropriated fund, and would appropriate $10,000,000 from the
General Fund to the California Civic Media Fund, for use by GO-Biz for purposes of the program. The bill would require GO-Biz to direct allocations of public moneys in the fund, and the director of GO-Biz to establish and appoint a 9-person advisory board consisting of designated membership to provide recommendations to GO-Biz for the allocation of private moneys in the fund, as specified. The bill would prohibit, in any fiscal year, the total expenditure of public money from the fund from exceeding the total aggregate expenditure of funds from private sources, as provided.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF