General Provisions - International Relations - Government - CA

Section § 99500

This section outlines the roles of various California state officials and agencies in international affairs. The Governor represents California's interests globally, as long as it aligns with federal law and the state constitution. The Lieutenant Governor leads efforts to boost trade through the California Commission for Economic Development. The Attorney General supports federal efforts against international legal challenges to state laws. The Secretary of State works on fostering connections with international businesses through an International Business Relations Program. The Department of Food and Agriculture promotes California's agricultural exports. The Natural Resources Agency and California Environmental Protection Agency focus on sharing environmental and alternative energy technologies internationally. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development oversees other international trade and investment activities. Lastly, these roles clarify existing law, not alter it.

(a) The Governor is the primary state officer representing California’s interest in international affairs, to the extent that representation is not in conflict with federal law or the California Constitution, and except as otherwise specified in this title, to the extent this title is not in conflict with federal law or the California Constitution.

(b) The Lieutenant Governor is the Chair of the California Commission for Economic Development, to improve trade opportunities for California. The Legislature finds that the commission has developed international partnerships that provide venues for foreign companies to do business in the state and for California-based companies to access foreign markets.

(c) The Attorney General is the chief law officer of California and as such assists the federal government in defending against international challenges to California laws.

(d) The Secretary of State oversees the International Business Relations Program, which aims to develop stronger connections between the international business community and the state by assisting foreign business entities with the various filing processes and procedures in California.

(e) The Department of Food and Agriculture is the primary state agency for the promotion of California agriculture, fish, and forest exports.

(f) The Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency are the primary state agencies for the promotion of international exchange of environmental protection technologies, alternative energy technologies, and the promotion of the transfer of environmental technology to and from the state.

(g) The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development is the primary state agency responsible for international trade and investment activities in areas other than those covered by the Department of Food and Agriculture.

(h) Subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, are declaratory of, and do not constitute a change in, existing law.

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Section § 99501

This California law establishes a 'state point of contact' within the executive branch to coordinate trade-related communications with the U.S. Trade Representative. This point of contact receives updates on federal trade policies and contributes feedback on trade negotiations. Their duties include sharing federal trade information with state agencies and officials, working with state entities to assess the impact of trade agreements on the environment and the state's economy, and conveying this information back to the U.S. Trade Representative. They also act as a go-between for trade policy matters with the state Legislature.

(a)

(1) The state point of contact, within the executive branch, acts, in compliance with federal practice, as the liaison between the state and the Office of the United States Trade Representative on trade-related matters.

(2) The state point of contact who, in compliance with federal practice, receives updates from the federal government on trade policies, is often provided the opportunity to review and comment on ongoing trade negotiations.

(b) The state point of contact shall, in addition to any other duties assigned by the Governor, do all of the following:

(1) Promptly disseminate correspondence or information from the United States Trade Representative to the appropriate state agencies and departments and legislative committees.

(2) Work with the appropriate state agencies and departments, and the Legislature, to review the effects on the California environment, and California businesses, workers, and general lawmaking authority, of any proposed or enacted trade agreement provisions, and communicate those findings to the United States Trade Representative.

(3) Serve as liaison to the Legislature on matters of trade policy oversight.

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Section § 99502

The Office of Planning and Research in California is required to keep an up-to-date list of all agreements made between the state and foreign governments. This list must be updated within 30 days of each new agreement. The list should include details like the dates of the agreement's start and end, the governmental body responsible for it, the activities planned, and the expected results.

Though other agencies can keep their own records or reports about these agreements, such records don't fulfill the requirements of this section.

(a) The Office of Planning and Research shall maintain and update, a full and comprehensive list of all state agreements made with foreign governments. The list shall be updated within 30 days of the effective date of each new agreement. The list shall include at least all of the following:

(1) The dates of enactment or approval and termination.

(2) The agency, department, board, commission, or other governmental entity responsible for implementation.

(3) Activities proposed.

(4) Expected outcomes.

(b) Agencies may separately maintain detailed information or reports on these activities as those agencies determine to be appropriate, but that information or those reports shall not be deemed to meet the requirements of this section.

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Section § 99503

This law requires California state employees, who work under an agency secretary, to report details about their international trips for state business within 30 days of returning. The report must include the trip's dates, locations, attendees of official meetings, goals, outcomes, and follow-ups. For conferences, broader details suffice.

State employees outside agency structures report this information to the Governor. Legislative staff report to their Committee on Rules. Employees under constitutional officers report to those officers. Additionally, trips impacting California's international trade or investment require notifying the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, except as specified for legislative and constitutional employees.

Trips involving the Governor, a legislator, or constitutional officers are exempt from these reporting requirements.

(a)

(1) All state employees working under the jurisdiction of an agency secretary shall, within 30 days of traveling out of the country on official state business provide, to the secretary to whom they report, a memorandum detailing dates of the trip, countries and localities visited, a description of attendees of any official meetings or events, and the goals, outcomes, and followup expected from the trip. However, attendance at formal conferences may be described in more general detail, including dates, location, types of groups represented in the audience, and general topics covered during the course of the conference.

(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), state employees who do not work within an agency structure shall report the information as described in paragraph (1) to the Governor’s office.

(3) Legislative employees shall provide the information as described in paragraph (1) to their respective Committee on Rules.

(4) State employees working under the jurisdiction of a constitutional officer shall provide the information as described in paragraph (1) to the constitutional officer to whom they report.

(5) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), state employees who undertake official state business that could impact California international trade or investment shall also provide a copy of the memorandum to the Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

(b) Travel out of the country on official state business when the Governor, a Member of the Legislature, or a constitutional officer, or all of these persons, is present, is exempt from the requirements of subdivision (a).

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