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Budget committee adopts procedure to put vetted contracts on full commission consent agenda
Summary
The Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee voted to recommend a procedure allowing contracts previously reviewed and recommended by at least two advisory committees to be placed on the full commission's consent calendar, with safeguards for documentation, public comment and unresolved committee concerns.
The Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee on Sept. 18 recommended that the full Commission for Behavioral Health adopt a formal procedure allowing certain contracts to be placed on the commission's consent agenda after prior committee review.
The committee, chaired by Al Rowlett, voted to forward the proposed process for full commission adoption after debating criteria that include committee concurrence, documentation of public comment, and limits on which contracts are eligible for consent. The motion was moved by Commissioner Wilkes and seconded by Commissioner Carnivale; commissioners present voted in favor.
The adopted criteria require that a contract be reviewed by the Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee and by either the Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee or the Program Advisory Committee before appearing on the full commission's consent calendar. Brenda Gralich, executive director, summarized the statutory basis during the presentation, citing the Commission's delegated authority under the Welfare and Institutions Code and the commission's Rules of Procedure.
Committee members emphasized that contracts with unresolved material modifications, significant public controversy, multi-party agreements, new program categories or potential legal exposure would be excluded from the consent calendar and instead placed on the regular agenda for fuller debate. Gralich told the committee that staff will prepare written reports documenting committee reviews, votes, any requested modifications and confirmation that no material changes have occurred since committee review.
Commissioners discussed how the new procedure should improve efficiency without sacrificing transparency. Commissioner Gordon suggested that staff clearly note during full-commission presentations that public commenters had earlier opportunities to weigh in at committee reviews; the committee agreed to incorporate that into the consent presentation.
The committee also established documentation standards for consent-eligible contracts: a comprehensive staff presentation covering scope and fiscal impact, a written staff report with committee-specific analysis, recorded committee votes, and public participation consistent with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.
The Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee recommended the full commission adopt the procedure. If the full commission approves, the change will let staff place 'committee-vetted' contracts on the consent calendar while preserving commissioners' right to remove items for individual consideration.
