OSHPD, Administrative Agencies in General, and Implementing SB 1953

Abstract

Our focus is on adding to our collective understanding of public policy implementation as it relates to reducing the likely consequences of extreme events, including, particularly, natural hazard events. The SB 1953 experience provides an excellent example of a policy that has been achieving its stated objectives slowly and gradually, but, unfortunately, not without adverse and largely unanticipated consequences. In general, regulatory policy is a form of public policy that calls for government organizations to do things to induce others to take the actions intended to achieve the ends toward which the policy is directed. Regulatory policy, by its very nature, comprises two critical sets of actors: those whose job it is to induce others to take action to comply with the requirement, and those organizations whose actions are the target of the policy. This chapter focuses on the first half of the equation: factors affecting the performance of the agency or agencies charged with administering the policy intended to induce other organizations to take action. Later chapters will address the actions taken by the organizations targeted by the policy.