BILL NUMBER: AB 1651	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Obernolte

                        JANUARY 12, 2016

   An act to add Sections 324.7 and 324.8 to the Public Utilities
Code, relating to the Public Utilities Commission.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1651, as introduced, Obernolte. Public Utilities Commission:
contracts.
   Existing law generally requires public contracts to be awarded by
competitive bidding pursuant to procedures set forth in the Public
Contract Code, subject to certain exceptions. Existing law authorizes
any state agency that receives delegated authority from the
Department of General Services to acquire, without prior approval,
materials, supplies, and equipment to make those acquisitions as long
as they do not exceed certain cost thresholds.
   Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to
semiannually electronically publish certain data collected for its
clearinghouse minority and women business data base for use by
governmental agencies and members of the public who request the
information.
   This bill would require the commission to publish a copy of each
awarded contract that it enters into for goods or services and to
identify specified information about the contract and contracting
party on its Internet Web site. The bill would require this
information to be published no less frequently than once a month and
be available free of charge on the commission's Internet Web site.
The bill would also require the commission to make available on its
Internet Web site audits conducted by the Department of General
Services of the commission's contracting practices.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Public Utilities Commission Contracting Transparency Act of 2016.
  SEC. 2.  Section 324.7 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   324.7.  (a) The commission shall, on its Internet Web site,
publish a copy of each awarded contract that the commission enters
into pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 10300) and
Article 4 (commencing with Section 10335) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of
Division 2 of the Public Contract Code and identify the following
information about the contract and contracting party: the name,
address, and point of contact of the company, the goods and services
requested, and the contract value.
   (b) The information described in subdivision (a) shall be
published no less frequently than once a month.
   (c) The information described in subdivision (a) shall be made
available free of charge on the commission's Internet Web site.
  SEC. 3.  Section 324.8 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   324.8.  The commission shall make available on its Internet Web
site audits conducted by the Department of General Services of the
commission's contracting practices.