Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Admin Reorg topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DCA outlines agency split, telework and travel rules for boards
Summary
A Department of Consumer Affairs representative told the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine that Gov. Newsom’s reorganization plan creating two agencies was enacted and that new telework and travel policies will affect board operations; members were briefed on timelines and administrative requirements.
Susan Kilcreece, speaking on behalf of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, told the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine on Sept. 17 that the governor’s reorganization plan to create two agencies has been enacted and multiple administrative changes are coming for boards and bureaus.
Kilcreece said the governor’s plan to split the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two agencies was enacted on July 5 and "the new business and consumer service agency will be responsible for consumer affairs, licensing and enforcement, and the department of consumer affairs would be among 8 departments in the new agency." She said the two agencies will become operative on July 1, 2026.
The update also covered telework and travel guidance that will affect board members and staff. Kilcreece summarized an executive order issued March 3, 2025 that directed state agencies to increase in-office days from two to four per week beginning July 1, 2025; she said labor agreements reached in June delayed that four-day requirement by one year for most Department of Consumer Affairs employees. On travel, Kilcreece cited Department of Finance guidance dated June 9, 2025 that limits out-of-state travel to mission-critical needs and requires boards to submit requests to DCA’s budget office eight weeks in advance.
Why it matters: the administrative changes Kilcreece described — agency reorganization, telework adjustments and new travel restrictions — alter how boards schedule meetings, approve travel and coordinate with the department’s budget office. The DCA presentation provided timing and operational details the board will need while preparing its 2026 sunset report.
Kilcreece also reminded members that DCA produces an annual report with data and that board members may contact member relations at dca.ca.gov for reimbursement or travel questions. "To best serve the public, it is incumbent upon us all to ensure that we are being fiscally prudent in our decisions," she said, urging staff and members to assess travel necessity and keep receipts for reimbursement.
Board response and next steps: board members asked clarifying questions about deadlines and what constitutes mission-critical travel. Kilcreece advised that requests should show mission necessity such as enforcement work, revenue collection, statutory requirements, auditing or litigation and that DCA will continue to brief boards as implementation proceeds. There was no public comment during the update.
Ending: Kilcreece closed by thanking the board and encouraging members to consult the published DCA annual report for more information; the board moved on to other agenda items.
