BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 1327 (Cannella) - state government: business information:
Internet Web site
Amended: As Introduced Policy Vote: GO 12-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: April 30, 2012 Consultant:
Bob Franzoia
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: This bill would require the Governor to establish
an Internet Web site to assist a person with the licensing,
permitting, and registration requirements necessary to start a
business.
Fiscal Impact: Up to $75,000 from the General Fund one time to
develop digital copies of all state applications, forms and
other similar documents available for download.
Minor ongoing General Fund and special fund costs to
maintain the Web site.
Background: Executive Order S-05-10 created the Office of
Economic Development in the Governor's Office. AB 29 (J Perez)
Chapter 475/2011 created the Governor's Office of Business and
Economic Development. Among other things, the office may
provide assistance in obtaining state and local permits,
assistance in permitting, siting, and other regulatory
information pertinent to business operations in the state, and
establish a well-advertised telephone number, an interactive
Internet Web site, and an administrative structure that
effectively supports the facilitation of business development
and investment in the state.
The office has created CalGOLD (Cal Government On Line to
Desktops) as a catalog of information posted on the Internet.
CalGOLD does not issue permits or licenses and specific
permitting and licensing questions must be directed to the
agencies catalogued within CalGOLD. The CalGOLD database
provides links and contact information that direct the user to
agencies that administer and issue business permits, licenses
and registration requirements from all levels of government.
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Much of the information is specific to the type of business and
its location in California. The CalGOLD site currently lists
147 business types. As part of a 2012-13 BCP, the office is
planning to add approximately 100 more business types and make
other improvements to the Web site.
The Department of Consumer of Affairs is implementing BreEZe, an
online enterprise licensing and enforcement solution intended to
improve licensing and enforcement efficiency. With BreEZe,
licensees and businesses may apply for or renew a license, pay
with a credit card in a secure environment, track the status of
an application or licensing request, submit address changes and
obtain proof of renewal status. BCP 1110/1111-01 requests
additional funding for continued support and to fund credit card
processing fees on behalf of users of credit card payments
through the BreEZe system.
Proposed Law: The Internet Web site shall include information
that does the following:
(1) Assists individuals with identifying the type of
applications, forms, or other similar documents an applicant may
need.
(2) Provides a digital copy of all state applications, forms, or
other similar documents available for download.
(3) Instructs individuals on how and where to submit
applications, forms, or other similar documents.
Related Legislation: AB 2012 (J Pérez) would require, among
other things that the Governor's Office of Business and Economic
Development establish and maintain an electronic online permit
assistance center. (Existing law requires the Secretary for
Environmental Protection to establish an electronic online
permit assistance center for the purpose of assisting a business
or other entity with complying with certain laws and
regulations.)
Staff Comments: It appears most, if not all, information and
instruction this bill requires a Web site to provide is present
in CalGOLD. Providing digital copies of all state applications
and improving the graphical user interface so a user is taken
directly to a permit, and not dropped into a board or department
menu, could involve up to six months of IT staffing. Some or
all of this work may be undertaken as part of the BCP noted
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above.
Recommended Amendments: This bill would permit the imposition of
a reasonable fee as a condition of accessing information on the
Web site. This provision is unclear. Is the intent to permit a
charge for the continued general use of the Web site, which is
likely unnecessary, or to permit online payment of an
application or permit fee similar to BreEZe? Staff recommends
this provision be clarified.