After the narrow passing of Measure G in the 2024 presidential election, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the structure for the Governance Reform Task Force (GRTF) to oversee the rollout of the changes in the ballot measure.

These include expanding the Board of Supervisors from five to nine members, creating an independent ethics commission that will increase restrictions on lobbying and investigate misconduct, establishing a nonpartisan legislative analyst position to review proposed county legislation and making the county CEO an elected position instead of an appointed one.

While some of these changes will take time to implement, others have taken effect immediately, including county departments presenting budgets in open, public hearings before adoption, a strengthened “revolving door” policy that prohibits former county officials from lobbying the county for at least two years after leaving public service and any elected official that has been criminally convicted of a crime to be immediately suspended without pay.

The GRTF, formed at the board’s Nov. 26 meeting, will be comprised of 13 members. Each supervisor will appoint one member, and they in turn will pick an at-large member from a selection of applicants representing the business sector, municipal government and community organizations, as well as a person with experience in public sector ethics.

The remaining three members will each be nominated by one of the following labor groups: the LA County Federation of Labor, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 and the Coalition of County Unions.

The composition of the task force must include two residents of the unincorporated communities and no more than two at-large members can reside in the same supervisorial district.

The scope of work for the task force will include a proposed structure for the ethics commission, which is to be established in 2026; reorganization options for the creation of a county legislative officer and a director of budget and management; a staffing and budget proposal for the new nine-member board; and a proposal and timeline to establish a charter review commission to meet at least every 10 years to review the county’s governance and the county charter.

“Today, our Board unanimously came together and took the first step in implementing historic reforms to the Los Angeles County’s governance structure,” Board Chair Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. “I am proud to be part of a Board of all women leaders who bring thoughtful solutions to the table to ensure we get this right.

“This is truly the start of a process with robust public engagement at its core.”

The passing of Measure G marks the first time the Board of Supervisors will be expanded since its creation in 1852. However, the timeline for that expansion isn’t set to occur until 2032, which will be after an independent redistricting process in 2030.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who has been vocal about her opposition to Measure G over the potential costs of the expanded board, initially introduced a separate proposal for the task force that had 15 members and a different process for which they would be chosen.

During the Tuesday meeting, however, Mitchell proposed a series of amendments to Horvath’s motion on the selection of members and included some requirements for supermajority votes by the task force on certain issues, including adopting or revising the rules and procedures of the GRTF and recommending the removal of another member.

Horvath accepted the amendments, which were approved by the board, and Mitchell withdrew her proposal.

The county has 60 days from last week’s meeting to create an online GRTF application for prospective at-large members who, at the bare minimum, must be at least 18 years old, live or work in LA County and have a willingness and commitment to work on a highly visible advisory board.

“On Nov. 5, LA County residents voted in favor of transforming Los Angeles County government,” said Supervisor Hilda Solis in a statement. “Now it is our job to ensure that the county moves swiftly to implement Measure G. … As the only Latina on the Board of Supervisors, I have long championed these reforms because I know how important it is to ensure that all of our county’s diverse voices are reflected in government.”

To learn more about the motion and qualifications for GRTF at-large members, go to https://lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov/unanimous-governance-reform/.