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Civil Rights Department seeks short extension and contracting exemption to keep California vs. Hate hotline running
Summary
The Civil Rights Department asked the Senate Budget subcommittee to correct a technical coding error and to include a one‑year contract exemption so a 2‑1‑1 vendor can continue running the California vs. Hate hotline without interruption.
The Civil Rights Department (CRD) asked the subcommittee to (1) correct a technical coding error that would restore eight positions and $1.7 million the department had earlier expected and (2) include contract‑exemption language in the 2025 budget act to continue the California vs. Hate resource line operated in contract with 2‑1‑1 LA.
Chief Deputy Director Mary Weed told the subcommittee the technical correction simply recodes previously approved funding and position authority for the department’s housing equity outreach and enforcement work that had been mischaracterized in an earlier budget action. Separately, CRD requested one‑year exemption language (07/01/2025 through 06/30/2026) to allow unilateral contract amendments for the 2‑1‑1 vendor delivering the California vs. Hate phone line. CRD said the vendor has unique infrastructure, cultural‑competency training and capacity to operate the line immediately, and that a standard, time‑consuming competitive procurement process could interrupt services.
LAO and procurement concerns: Paul Steinhausen of the LAO said contract exemptions should be used sparingly because competitive bidding is normally preferable for transparency and value; he recommended the Legislature ask CRD to develop a plan to allow competitive procurement if the Legislature intends to continue funding in later years. CRD said the current contract produced more than 100 formal reports of hate incidents in its first year and an independent evaluation showed 63% of service recipients rated the support helpful.
Subcommittee action: Members asked why the exemption request was not included earlier in the budget cycle; CRD replied that it could not start a procurement before the Legislature provided funding certainty. The subcommittee left the item open and asked CRD to provide documentation on grant‑management obligations and evaluation plans if the Legislature extends funding or approves the requested exemption language.
Ending: Because the program is time‑sensitive and the subcommittee previously voted to fund the hotline in an earlier hearing, several members indicated support for continuing service while urging CRD to start a competitive procurement process if the Legislature funds the program beyond 2025‑26.
