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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide detailed information on how the money will be spent, nor does it specify which journalists or news organizations will receive funding.

California Civic Media Program

The California Civic Media Program, run by GO-Biz, aims to support journalism in California and improve public information 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 the public good by supporting a robust and dynamic press corps in California.
• Creates the California Civic Media Fund with $10 million from the state budget to support the program.
• Requires GO-Biz to manage how money is spent in the fund, including setting up an advisory board of 9 members to provide recommendations on spending decisions.

Who It Names or Affects

• GO-Biz and its director
• Journalists and news organizations in California

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 for California.

California Civic Media Program

A program created to support journalism in California by providing financial assistance through a special fund.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact details of how the money will be spent are not fully explained.
• It is unclear which specific journalists or news organizations will receive funding from this program.

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