BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  SB 1327
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          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 1327 (Cannella)
          As Amended  August 21, 2012
          Majority vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :39-0  
           
           GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION 15-0  APPROPRIATIONS      16-0        
           
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          |Ayes:|Hall, Nestande, Atkins,   |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey,            |
          |     |Block, Chesbro, Cook,     |     |Blumenfield, Bradford,    |
          |     |Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, |     |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
          |     |Hill, Jeffries, Ma,       |     |Davis, Fuentes, Hall,     |
          |     |Perea, Silva, Bradford    |     |Hill, Cedillo, Mitchell,  |
          |     |                          |     |Nielsen, Norby, Solorio,  |
          |     |                          |     |Wagner                    |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           SUMMARY  :  Requires the Director of the Governor's Office of 
          Business and Economic Development to ensure that the office's 
          Internet Web site contain information to assist an individual 
          with all the necessary information on how to start a business in 
          the State of California,  this bill  :   

          1)Requires that the Internet Web site contain information on the 
            licensing, permitting, and registration requirements of state 
            agencies, and shall include, but not be limited to, 
            information that does all of the following:

             a)   Assist individuals with identifying the type of 
               applications, forms, or other similar documents and 
               applicant may need.

             b)   Provides a digital copy of all state applications, 
               forms, or other similar documents available for download.

             c)   Instructs individuals on how and where to submit 
               applications, forms, or other similar documents.

          2)Requires the Governor to ensure that the Internet Web site is 
            user-friendly and provides accurate, updated information.

          3)Requires a state agency to provide accurate updated 
            information about its licensing requirements.








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          4)Prohibits a state agency from using the Internet Web site 
            established by this bill as the exclusive source of licensing 
            information for the public to access licensing requirements 
            for that agency.

          5)Authorizes the Governor to impose a reasonable fee upon users 
            of the Internet Web site.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Establishes the Office of Business Development (GO-Biz) within 
            the Governor's Office, under the control of a director who is 
            appointed by the Governor, for the purpose of serving as the 
            lead entity for economic strategy and marketing of California 
            on issues relating to business development, private sector 
            investment and economic growth.

          2)Provides for the California Economic Strategy Panel within the 
            Labor and Workforce Development Agency to provide 
            recommendations regarding an economic development strategic 
            plan and charges the panel with the new responsibility of 
            addressing the development of a system of accountability for 
            use in the annual state budget process.

          3)Provides that the California Small Business Financial 
            Development Corporations Law, creates the Office of the 
            California Small Business Board and imposes numerous duties on 
            the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing.

          4)Creates the Office of Small Business Advocate within the 
            Office of Planning and Research, and imposes various duties 
            and requires the Governor to appoint the director of the 
            Office of Small Business Advocate.

          5)Provides for the California Business Investment Services 
            program, which is currently operated by the Labor and 
            Workforce Development Agency.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations 
          Committee, costs associated with this legislation should be 
          minor and absorbable within existing resources.

           COMMENTS  :   








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           Author's statement  :  According to the author, "SB 1327 seeks to 
          create a one-stop-shop internet website for individuals to use 
          as a tool in obtaining the necessary permits and licenses to 
          start a business. This measure is designed to help individuals 
          navigate, California's complex regulatory system by streamlining 
          the application process."  In addition, the author claims that 
          "while CalGOLD is a useful resource, there is more that can be 
          done to expedite and streamline the application process."

           Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development  :  GO-Biz 
          was created by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. to serve as 
          California's single point of contact for economic development 
          and job creation efforts.  GO-Biz offers a range of services to 
          business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion 
          services, site election, permit streamlining, clearing of 
          regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international 
          trade development, assistance with state government, and much 
          more.  

           Cal Government On Line to Desktops  :  GO-Biz created Cal 
          Government On Line to Desktops (CalGOLD) 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.  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 business continuity plan, the office is planning to 
          add approximately 100 more business types and make other 
          improvements to the Web site.

           Related legislation  : AB 991 (Olsen) of the current legislative 
          session, requires the Governor to create the California 
          Licensing and Permit Center Internet Web site to assist the 
          public, free of charge, with licensing, permitting, and 
          registration requirements of state agencies.  (Held in Assembly 
          Appropriations Committee)

          AB 1549 (Gatto) of the current legislative session, 
          re-establishes the Office of Permit Assistance under the 








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          Governor's Office of Planning and Research to help facilitate 
          state and local review of commercial and industrial development 
          projects. (Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee) 

          AB 2641 (Skinner) of the current legislative session, requires 
          GO-Biz to post on its Internet Web site information to assist a 
          person in starting a nonprofit corporation and to assist 
          nonprofit corporations to achieve compliance with the state's 
          statutory and regulatory requirements. (Pending on the Senate 
          Floor)


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Felipe Lopez / G. O. / (916) 319-2531 


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