Effective July 1, 2013, the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 2012 creates the Government Operations Agency and, as part of the plan, moves the State Personnel Board (SPB) (previously budgeted within General Government under Organization Code 8390) to this new Agency (Government Operations). Prior to July 1, 2012, SPB was budgeted under Organization Code 1880.

The five-member SPB, whose members are appointed by the Governor for ten-year terms, was established in the California Constitution in 1934. SPB is responsible for California's civil service system, ensuring it is free from political patronage and that employment decisions are based on merit.