Prioritize equity analysis in agency planning, governor says
GettyImages/ Flashpop
An executive order requires California agencies to advance equity in their strategic plans by gathering and analyzing data from historically disadvantaged and underserved communities.
California state agencies will be required to embed equity analysis in their missions, policies and practices, according to an executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 13.
The state has already made strides to promote data-driven programs. Its Civil Rights Department publishes an annual report of pay data, and the Office of Data and Innovation was reorganized this summer to help agencies use data, user-centered design and technology to drive better services delivery.
Under the executive order, agencies must update their strategic plans to advance equity and respond to identified disparities by gathering input from historically disadvantaged and underserved communities and leveraging data analysis and inclusive practices.
The Department of Human Resources, for example, must by next July analyze the state’s existing employee data and update it to include data on race/ethnicity, gender identity, age and disability so that it can roll out an anonymous hiring system by the end of 2023.
The Civil Rights Department will analyze complaint data and advance its work enforcing pay data reporting requirements by showing employers, when possible, a graphical report of their pay data so they can correct disparities. It is also charged with conducting new analyses of pay data to identify disparities by job category, region and industry.
To help agencies better integrate more equity analysis into their strategic plans, the Office of Data and Innovation will help them identify and address disparities in government operations and services. It will develop standards for collecting and managing race and ethnicity data, metrics for measuring and tracking equity in state programs and service delivery standards that support equity. ODI will also develop best practices that address sensitivities around data collection.
Governor's Office of Planning and Research will create the state’s first Racial Equity Commission that will rely on publicly available data to develop resources, best practices and tools for advancing racial equity. It is charged with building a statewide racial equity framework that includes equity assessment tools that show how budget allocations benefit or burden communities of color. The framework will also outline processes for safely and effectively collecting and analyzing data, including disaggregation and the use of proxies.
“In California, we recognize that our incredible diversity is the foundation for our state’s strength, growth and success – and that confronting inequality is not just a moral imperative, but an economic one,” Newsom said. “California won’t shy away from this challenge – with today’s action, our state is doubling down on the ongoing work to make the California Dream a reality for every one of us.”