2011 Legislative Agenda

California Black Chamber of Commerce

2011 Legislative Agenda ~ June 2011 Update
 

In his weekly address in June, 2011, President Obama told Americans “its going to take time” to fix the economic problems they currently face in their struggle to get “within reach” of the American dream.  Small businesses and particularly minority owned small businesses are more dramatically impacted by the failing economy then any other sector of the business community.  The status of the economy requires that the California Black Chamber of Commerce and small business owners throughout the state take a much more aggressive position in representing our interest before policymakers on the federal, state and local level.  As a result of these economic realities the California Black Chamber of Commerce has focused its efforts on policy initiatives that will create jobs, less the regulatory burdens of small businesses, and facilitate business opportunities for small businesses.

In a new CNN poll, nearly half of Americans surveyed think another Great Depression is around the corner, with 48 percent saying it is either somewhat or very likely to happen with a year.  The only way to avoid a worsening of the economic outcome is support initiatives that create jobs and spur the economy and to oppose initiatives that create undue burdens on businesses.  The California Black Chamber of commerce is working to do just that.

This year, the California Black Chamber of Commerce has an active legislative agenda.  We have been working with members of the Legislature on a number of legislative items.  June 3, 2011, marked the house of origin deadline.  The following bills passed out of their house of origin and will be heard in the second house over the next couple of weeks.  The California Black Chamber of Commerce will work closely with legislators and coalition partners to support these bills.  If you need any information regarding these legislative priorities please feel free to contact Phyllis Marshall at pmarshall@manatt.com

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Assembly Bill 1386 (Bradford) - Women, Minority, and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Procurement

According to the author, women and minority-owned business participation in the broadband industry will be critical to job recovery in California.  Small businesses are critical sources of new employment.  This bill will encourage cable television corporations and direct broadcast satellite providers to voluntarily adopt a plan for increasing women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprise procurement and to voluntarily report activity in this area to the Legislature on an annual basis.  In the most recent California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) report to the Legislature, utility spending on diverse procurement increased from $3.47 billion in 2008 to $4.27 billion in 2009, an increase of 23.05%.  There was also an increase as a percentage of total utility procurement; amounts from diverse firms increased from 13.19% in 2008 to 16.72% in 2009.  The same potential for reporting and achievement may exist with cable television corporations and direct broadcast satellite providers.

Position: Support

Senate Bill 67 (Price) – Public Contracts: Small Business Participation

Senate Bill 67 authorizes the Department of General Services (DGS), to direct all state agencies to establish 25% participation goal for California certified small businesses in state procurement and contracts.  If DGS elects to so direct state agencies, the following apply:  1) All state agencies that engage in state procurement and contracting must implement procurement and contract processes in order to meet the 25% small business participation goal each fiscal year; 2) DGS may establish policies and procedures to monitor the progress of state agencies toward meeting the 25% goal, and may regularly share information with the Small Business Advocate on each agency’s progress toward meeting the annual goal, including providing copies of corrective action plans; 3) DGS may require a state agency that has not achieved its fiscal year goal of 25% small business participation goal to submit an implementation and corrective action plan, and may continue to require annual updates to the plan as long as the agency fails to meet or exceed the goal. DGS may establish criteria for these plans and publish them in the State Administrative Manual (SAM); 4) DGS may reasonably assist state agencies in improving small business participation in their contracting, including entering into memoranda of understanding with agencies that haven’t met the goal.  This bill directs DGS to establish policies for state agencies on how to use the existing Small Business Procurement and Contract Act, and to incorporate the policies in the SAM and the State Contracting Manual.  This bill requires DGS to actively promote small business certification.  The provisions of this bill would become operative on July 1, 2012.

Position: Support

Senate Bill 460 (Price) – Better Trade Promotion

Supports California’s international trade efforts by giving the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency more authority over trade promotion, and requires the organizing of a statewide business partnership for international trade and promotion.

Position:  Support

Senate Bill 475 (Wright) – Infrastructure Financing

Creates private sector construction-related jobs and investment in infrastructure by providing local governments more flexibility and authority to use public-private partnerships. 

Position:  Support

Senate Bill 734 (Price) – High-Speed Rail Authority: Small Business Program: Bidding Preferences

Senate Bill 734 does the following:  Makes findings and declarations related to the importance of small businesses to California’s economy; Requires the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), in its business plan to include a strategy for ensuring the participation of California-certified small businesses in contracts it awards; Mandates that the HSRA, with the assistance of the Department of General Services (DGS), prepare and adopt a small business, micro business, and disabled veteran business enterprise outreach and retention plan which the HSRA is to adopt by July 31, 2012; Requires the HSRA to hold a public hearing on the draft plan at a monthly board meeting at least one month before the plan’s adoption.  The draft plan and the final plan shall be posted on the HSRA’s website; Mandates that all procurement documents include a summary of the plan and a link to the plan on HSRA’s Web;  Affirms that HSRA is subject to the provisions of the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act, including all contract preferences included in the act; Mandates that the HSRA shall include at all bidders conferences a presentation of the plan and the state’s small business participation goals and shall request a DGS representative attend to explain the state’s small business program; Establishes an additional price preference or score of 2.5 percent of the bid amount to state-qualified micro businesses.

Position: Support

California Black Chamber of Commerce Legislative Report

The California Black Chamber of Commerce monitors legislation throughout the legislative session.  We analyze the impact that these measures will have on small businesses.  We work in coordination with the business community and others to support or oppose these initiatives.  To view the full California Black Chamber of Commerce Legislative Report, click here.