Legislation Creating the Commission

Chapter 3.1
Government Code Section 8240-8246

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

1. § 8240. Legislative findings and declaration
   The Legislature finds and declares that despite the fact that women apparently have greater equality in California than in many states, they still are not able to contribute to society according to their full potential. With a view to developing recommendations which will enable women to make the maximum contribution to society, the Legislature has created the Commission on the Status of Women.
2. § 8241 Existence of Commission; membership; term of office; vacancies
   There is in the state government the Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission shall consist of 17 members: three Members of the Senate and one public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, three Members of the Assembly and one public member appointed by the Speaker, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Chief of the Division of Industrial Welfare in the Department of Industrial Relations, and seven public members appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate. The Members of the Legislature shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing powers.
   
   Public member appointees of the Speaker and the Senate Committee on Rules , and appointees of the Governor shall serve four-year terms. All persons re-appointed pursuant to Section 2 of Chapter 1378 of the Statutes of 1965, as amended by Chapter 382 of the Statutes of 1973, shall continue in office until the expiration of their term and the appointment of their successors. The appointing powers may reappoint a member whose term has expired, and shall immediately fill any vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term in which it occurs."
   
   All appointees shall hold office until the appointment of their successors. **
3. § 8242 Per diem; expenses; chairman and vice chairman
   1. a) Public members of the Commission shall receive one hundred dollars ($100) per diem while on official business of the Commission, not to exceed 12 days per year. Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to receive his or her actual necessary traveling expenses while on official business of the Commission.
   2. b) The Commission shall select annually from its membership, a chairperson and vice-chairperson.
4. § 8243. Open and public meetings
   All meetings of the Commission shall be open and public and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meetings of the Commission.
5. § 8244. Powers and authority of Commission
   The Commission shall have the powers and authority necessary to carry out the duties imposed upon it by this chapter, including, but not limited to the following:
   1. a) To employ such administrative, technical and other personnel as may be necessary for the performance of its duties.
   2. b) To hold hearings, make and sign any agreements and to do and perform any acts which may be necessary, desirable, or proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
   3. c) To cooperate with, and secure the cooperation of, any department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other agency of the state to facilitate it properly to carry out its powers and duties hereunder.
   4. d) To appoint advisors or advisory committees from time to time when the Commission determines that the experience or expertise of such advisors or advisory committees is needed for projects of the Commission. Section 11009 is applicable to advisors or advisory committees.
   5. e) To accept any federal funds granted, by act of Congress or by executive order, for all or any of the purposes of this chapter.
   6. f) To accept any gifts, donations, grants, or bequests for all or any of the purposes of this chapter.
6. § 8245. Study by Commission
   1. a) The Commission shall study the following:
      1. 1) Women's educational and employment problems, needs, and opportunities.
      2. 2) State laws in regard to the civil and political rights of women, including pensions, tax requirements, property rights, marriage and dissolution of marriage provisions, and similar matters.
      3. 3) The effect of social attitudes and pressures and economic considerations in shaping the roles to be assumed by women in the society.
      4. 4) Any laws, practices, or conditions which impose special limitations or burdens upon them or upon society, or which limit or tend to limit opportunities available to women.
   2. b) The Commission shall act as an information center on the status of women and women's educational, employment, and other related needs.
   3. c) The Commission shall recommend, develop, prepare, or coordinate materials, projects, or other activities, and shall give technical and consultative advice to public or private groups or persons concerned with any of the following:
      1. 1) Preventing or minimizing problems brought about by the changing roles and responsibilities of women.
      2. 2) Developing programs to encourage and enable women to be fully contributing members of society.
   4. d) A prime function of the Commission shall be to encourage women's organizations and other groups to institute local self-help activities designed to meet women's educational ,employment, and related needs. The Commission shall make reports on its activities, findings, and recommendations to the Legislature from time to time, but not less often than every odd-numbered year.
7. § 8246 Authorization to inform legislature and state positions and viewpoints
   1. a) The Commission is expressly authorized to inform the Legislature of its position on any legislative proposal pending before the Legislature and to urge the introduction of legislative proposals.
   2. b) The Commission is expressly authorized to state its position and viewpoint on issues developed in the performance of its duties and responsibilities as specified in this chapter.
   3. c) This section is declaratory of existing law.

***Note: The term of appointments made by the Governor are now subject to the specifications set forth in § 1774 — see Memorandum 91-16)