BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 340
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 340 (Bradford)
As Amended April 25, 2013
Majority vote
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 10-4
APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Bradford, Bonilla, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Buchanan, Fong, Garcia, | |Bradford, |
| |Roger Hern�ndez, Quirk, | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| |Rendon, Skinner, Williams | |Eggman, Gomez, Hall, |
| | | |Rendon, Pan, Quirk, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Patterson, Ch�vez, Beth |Nays:|Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Gaines, Jones | |Donnelly, Linder, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the California Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) to require all grants, contracts, subsidies, financing,
and activities administered through the Electric Program
Investment Charge (EPIC) to meet the requirements of General
Order 156 of PUC.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor, absorbable costs to PUC.
COMMENTS :
1)Author's Statement . "The State has adopted and funded millions
of dollars in job training programs in energy efficiency and
renewable energy technologies. After the training is complete
we need to make sure that jobs are available for these
graduates. And these jobs should not be limited to just
construction jobs - they need to include all of the types of
jobs common in the energy industry, such as technical support,
administration, legal, finance, engineering, economics,
management, and entrepreneur. Currently ratepayer funded
energy research programs do not have to report on their
programs and progress toward including women, minorities, and
disabled veterans.
AB 340
Page 2
"My bill would ensure that EPIC program administrators have
such programs and report on their progress. This is the kind
of program that can help these women, minorities, and disabled
veterans gain the experience that will lead them to better
opportunities in the Executive Offices and Board Rooms of
California energy companies."
2)Supplier Diversity is Working . Since 1986, when California
enacted AB 3678 (Moore), Chapter 1259 utilities have reported
greater and greater levels of supplier diversity investment.
Today these investments are creating billions of dollars of
economic activity for these underutilized members of
California's economy. In March 2013, PUC announced that the
companies participating in its Supplier Diversity Program
achieved a new record, procuring approximately $8.1 billion in
goods and services from women, minority, and disabled
veteran-owned business enterprises.
3)Job Training Programs need Jobs for Graduates . Through the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and green
training programs funded by ratepayers many programs have been
created. With the exception of construction apprentice
programs, none have focused on ensuring that employers are
seeking the graduates from these programs or that business
owners of diverse backgrounds are being sought for research,
development, and demonstration opportunities.
Analysis Prepared by : Susan Kateley / U. & C. / (916)
319-2083
FN: 0000653