BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                            



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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 733
          Author:   Block (D)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE  :  11-0, 4/9/13
          AYES:  Wright, Nielsen, Berryhill, Calderon, Cannella, Correa,  
            De Le�n, Galgiani, Hernandez, Lieu, Padilla

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  7-0, 5/23/13
          AYES:  De Le�n, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg


           SUBJECT  :    State contracts:  disabled veteran business  
          enterprise statewide participation goals:  business utilization  
          plan value

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill deletes provisions of law allowing an  
          awarding department to accept submission of a disabled veteran  
          business enterprise (DVBE) utilization plan to meet the 3%  
          statewide participation goal for DVBE awarded contracts.

           ANALYSIS  :    

          Existing law:

          1. Establishes a 3% statewide participation goal for a DVBE for  
             contracts awarded by any state agency when they are expending  
             state funds for construction, professional services,  
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             materials, supplies, equipment, alteration, repair, or  
             improvement.  These goals apply to the overall dollar amount  
             expended each year by the awarding department. 

          2. Requires an awarding department to award the contract to the  
             lowest responsible bidder meeting specified statewide  
             participation goals for DVBEs.

          3. Allows an awarding department to accept submission of a DVBE  
             utilization plan meeting certain requirements to meet this  
             goal, as specified.

          This bill:

          1. Deletes provisions of law allowing an awarding department to  
             accept submission of a DVBE utilization plan to meet the 3%  
             statewide participation goal for DVBE awarded contracts. 

          2. Specifies instead that the statewide participation goal for  
             DVBEs may be met by the business utilization plan value of a  
             business utilization plan partner, as defined, established by  
             payments between the partner and a DVBE, as specified. 

          3. Requires the Department of General Services (DGS) to certify  
             persons meeting certain requirements as a business  
             utilization plan partner, as defined, and requires a business  
             utilization plan partner and a DVBE to report information  
             relating to the business utilization plan value.

           Comments
           
          The author's office notes that existing law contains a number of  
          requirements for certification of utilization plans such that,  
          in the 10 years that the business utilization plan option has  
          been in place under existing law, only one has ever actually  
          been established.  In this bill, the author intends to  
          "streamline the cumbersome process in current law required for a  
          utilization plan to be developed and approved by delegating to  
          the Department of General Services authority to establish the  
          minimum parameters necessary for a business utilization plan to  
          meet the goals of the DVBE program while maintaining its  
          integrity.  It creates the flexibility the department needs to  
          certify the business utilization plans that prime contract is  
          required to submit to be a business utilization plan partner.   

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          Streamlining the process creates an incentive for prime  
          contractors to hire more DVBEs, as SB 733 creates more  
          opportunities for DVBE participants to serve as subcontractors  
          in state contracting.  This will be an essential support element  
          because pending major infrastructure programs like the High  
          Speed Rail and Delta Restoration projects, which contain or may  
          contain the 3% DVBE participation requirement, depend heavily on  
          prime contractors to hire DVBEs as subcontractors.  The  
          streamlined business utilization plan process will help these  
          contractors meet the DVBE goals, especially when, for certain  
          key tasks, qualified DVBEs may not be available." 

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

          According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, DGS estimates  
          that it will incur $50,000 in one-time costs and require two  
          positions ongoing to implement the provisions of this bill  
          (special funds).  The one-time costs are related to (1)  
          rulemaking; (2) the development of forms, policies, and training  
          materials; (3) providing initial training to other state  
          departments on this new type of DVBE participation; and (4)  
          initial certifications and calculations for applicant firms. 

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/23/13)

          Disabled Veterans Business Alliance
          Associated General Contractors of California

           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    Supporters state that this bill will  
          permit prime contractors seeking to hire qualified DVBEs to meet  
          DVBE goals by including indirect DVBE subcontracting work in  
          support of fulfillment of the contract.  Supporters in the  
          construction industry express concern regarding the availability  
          of DVBEs and the need to have additional hiring options.  They  
          believe this bill addresses this issue by providing additional  
          options for contractors to hire non-construction disabled  
          veteran owned businesses and to have the payments of those  
          businesses apply toward meeting the 3% goal.


          MW:d  5/24/13   Senate Floor Analyses 

                           SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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