California Commission for Economic Development
The California Commission for Economic Development[1] (CED) was established by statute in 1971 to serve as a bipartisan advisory board on economic development issues to the executive and legislative leadership of the State of California.
The Commission served the state under the statutory Chairmanship of Lieutenant Governors from 1971 through 1994, but in the seven years that followed, funding for the Commission was not included in the annual state budgets. Recognizing the need for additional economic development efforts, Governor Gray Davis and the Legislature restored funding for the Commission in 2002. In mid-2003, the Governor appointed a sufficient number of members to establish a quorum. Under the past Chair, Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, the Commission held its first official meeting in more than ten years on December 15, 2003. The current Chair is Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi.[2] Under Garamendi, quarterly meetings have taken place in July and November 2007 and February and May 2008, with the next meeting occurring on September 15, 2008.
Pursuant to California Code §14999-14999.10, the Commission has the following powers and authority to carry out its statutory duties:
(a) To adopt such rules and regulations as it deems advisable with respect to the conduct of its own affairs.
(b) To hold hearings, make and sign agreements and to do or perform any acts which may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out its purposes.
(c) To cooperate with, and secure the cooperation of, any department, division, bureau, commission or other agency of the state, other government, public entity, private organization or corporation to facilitate the execution of its powers and duties.
(d) To accept any federal funds granted, by act of Congress or by executive order, for all or any of its purposes.
(e) To accept any gifts, donations, grants or bequests for all or any of its purposes.