Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 In 1964, during the presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson, Congress enacted Public Law 88-452, an omnibus bill, entitled the "Economic Opportunity Act of 1964." The Act established the Office of Economic Opportunity in the Executive Office of the President to direct and coordinate the mobilization of the "human and financial resources of the nation to combat poverty in the United States," and quickly became known as the “war on poverty.”   In part, the Act stated: "It is the policy of the United States to eliminate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in this nation by opening, to everyone, the opportunity for education and training, the opportunity to work, and the opportunity to live in decency and dignity."   State Office of Economic Opportunity In 1981 the Act was amended to provide for the creation of offices of economic opportunity at the state level to encourage the involvement of state governments in the effort to fight poverty. Later that year, then-Governor Edmund G. (Pat) Brown created, by Executive Order, the California State Office of Economic Opportunity (SOEO) to assume responsibility for liaison between SOEO and non-SOEO anti-poverty programs in California. The SOEO Director advised the governor of his responsibilities with regard to the federal war on poverty; reviewed and monitored programs for recommendation of veto or approval; and provided technical assistance and leadership to local communities in the development of projects to combat poverty and in the application for anti-poverty grants.   Community Services & Development Since 1996, the department has been named Community Services & Development, and has acted as the state-level partner with the network of local community service agencies in the mission to assist low-income Californians in achieving self-sufficiency, and it plays a strategic role in promoting collaboration among state agencies that address the needs of the poor.  CSD administers the following programs:   Federal Funds Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Block Grant Department of Energy Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program (DOE-LIWAP) Lead Hazard Control Program State Funds Naturalization Services Program   Federal Legislation 1964--Public Law 88-452, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 authorized the formation of local Community Action Agencies as part of the War on Poverty. These agencies were directly regulated by the Federal Government.   State Legislation    1964--California State Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) was created by Governor's Executive Order. Its function initially was training and technical assistance to local agencies in developing, conducting, and administering community action programs.    1968--In response to congressional amendments to the Act, which granted the states a greater role in war-on-poverty projects, the Department of Human Resources Development assumed oversight for the State Office of Economic Opportunity (Chapter 1460, Statutes of 1968).    1974--The federal Office of Economic Opportunity was renamed the Community Services Administration (CSA). After several different attempts to do so, the CSA was finally legislated out of existence in 1981 and the functions were transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).    1976--Governor's Executive Order No. B-16-76 integrated the State Office of Economic Opportunity into the newly established Employment Development Department (formerly the Department of Human Resource Development).    1981--In an effort to create a stronger role for the state's anti-poverty operation, the State Office of Economic Opportunity (SOEO) was moved to the Governor's Office (Chapter 819, Statutes of 1981) and was established as the State's antipoverty agency. Also established with this bill was the 11-member Advisory Commission to advise the director on program development and the establishment of goals and priorities in combating poverty. SOEO staff were also directed in Chapter 819 to prepare, on behalf of the commission, an annual report regarding the status of poverty in the State and recommended solutions and resources needed to alleviate poverty.    1985--The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) was created as an independent department (Chapter 457, Statutes of 1985), and civil service status was established for the department's personnel.    1992--The 11-member Advisory Commission was effectively abolished by exclusion from the 1992/93 State Budget Act.    1992--Governor Wilson issued Executive Order No. W-51-93 to link the Department to the Health and Welfare Agency for one year in an effort, among other things, to improve coordination and efficiency of the State's delivery system of services to the poor through linkage of the department to others in Health and Welfare Agency.    1993--Chapter 56, Statutes of 1993, which, among other things, eliminated non-essential advisory bodies, abolished the 11-member Advisory Commission.    1994--Governor Wilson issued Executive Order No. W-85-94 to extend the provisions of Executive Order No. 51-93 through January 1, 1996.    1996--Chapter 187, Statutes of 1995 renamed DEO the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) to more accurately reflect its purpose and to eliminate confusion regarding its relation to "economic opportunity." The bill also changed the department's status from an independent entity in state government and moved it under the Health and Welfare Agency, requiring the director to report to the secretary of the agency.    1998--Chapter 817, Statutes of 1998 changed the name of the Health and Welfare Agency to the Health and Human Services Agency