BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1505


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          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS


          AB  
          1505 (Roger Hernández)


          As Amended  May 27, 2016


          Majority vote


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          |ASSEMBLY:  |      |(May 14, 2015) |SENATE: |29-6  |(August 18,      |
          |           |      |               |        |      |2016)            |
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          |           |      |               |        |      |                 |
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                 (vote not relevant)




          Original Committee Reference:  L. & E..


          SUMMARY:  Extends the statute of limitations from one year to  
          three for specified misdemeanor violations of the Public  
          Contract Code.


          The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill  
          and instead, provide that prosecution for specified violations  
          of the Public Contract Code (PCC) prohibiting the splitting of  
          work orders or projects to avoid competitive bidding shall  
          commence within three years of the commission of the offense.  


          EXISTING LAW:  










                                                                    AB 1505


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          1)Provides that prosecution for crimes punishable by  
            imprisonment in the state prison for eight years or more must  
            commence within six years after commission of the offense,  
            unless otherwise provided by law.  
          2)Provides that prosecution for an offense punishable by  
            imprisonment in state prison or pursuant to PCC Section  
            1170(h) must commence within three years commission of the  
            offense, except as specified.  


          3)Provides that the prosecution of a misdemeanor must commence  
            within one year of the commission of the offense, unless  
            otherwise provided by law.  


          4)Provides that for an offense which is a "wobbler" (i.e.,  
            punishable as an alternate felony or misdemeanor), the offense  
            is classified consistent with its maximum punishment for  
            purposes of the statute of limitations.  


          5)Disregards enhancements for purposes of determining the  
            statute of limitations.  


          6)States that, unless otherwise provided by law, a statute of  
            limitations is not tolled or extended for any reason.  


          7)States that a prosecution is commenced when one of the  
            following occurs:


             a)   An indictment or information is filed;


             b)   A complaint charging a misdemeanor or infraction is  
               filed;


             c)   The defendant is arraigned on a complaint that charges  
               him or her with a felony; or,








                                                                    AB 1505


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             d)   An arrest warrant or bench warrant is issued.  


          8)Makes it unlawful to split or separate into smaller work  
            orders or projects any work, project, service, or purchase for  
            the purpose of evading provisions of law requiring contracting  
            after competitive bidding. 


          9)Makes it a misdemeanor to split or separate into smaller work  
            orders or projects any public work project for the purpose of  
            evading the requirement that public work be done by contract  
            after competitive bidding.  


          10)Makes it unlawful to split or separate into smaller work  
            orders or projects any work, project, service, or purchase for  
            the purpose of evading the provisions of law requiring  
            contracting after competitive bidding.


          11)Makes it unlawful to split or separate into smaller work  
            orders or projects for the purpose of evading the provisions  
            of law requiring work to be done by contract after competitive  
            bidding. 


          12)Makes it unlawful to split or separate into smaller work  
            orders or projects any project for the purpose of avoiding  
            competitive bidding. 


          AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill required a car wash  
          employer to provide written notice to a successor employer  
          regarding the requirements of existing law prior to the sale or  
          other transfer of the business.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  None.  This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the  
          Legislative Counsel.








                                                                    AB 1505


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          COMMENTS:  According to the author, "While the Controller's  
          audit was on West Covina, it brought to light a deficiency in  
          the statute of limitations in regards to violating state and  
          local contracting laws.  The recommendation highlighted the need  
          for a statutory change to prevent willful abuse of taxpayer  
          dollars.  The current one-year limitation impedes any recourse  
          for justice.  By extending the limitation it provides greater  
          protection of taxpayer dollars and holds elected officials more  
          accountable."


          This bill was substantially amended in the Senate and the  
          Assembly approved provisions of this bill were deleted.  This  
          bill, as amended in the Senate is inconsistent with Assembly  
          actions.  


          Analysis Prepared by:                                             
                          Sandy Uribe / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744  FN:  
          0003647