BILL NUMBER: AB 1651	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 19, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 15, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 20, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 17, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Obernolte

                        JANUARY 12, 2016

   An act to add Sections  324.7, 324.8, and 324.9 
 324.7 and 324.8  to the Public Utilities Code, relating to
the Public Utilities Commission.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1651, as amended, Obernolte. Public Utilities Commission:
contracts.
   Existing law generally  authorizes state agencies, including
the Public Utilities Commission, to enter into contracts, and 
requires  public   those  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 database for use by
governmental agencies and members of the public who request the
information. 
   This bill would require the commission to make available on its
Internet Web site free of charge information about each contract that
it enters into, including specified information about the contract
and contracting parties. The bill would require this information to
be published no less frequently than once a year.  The bill
would subject to these same requirements, commencing July 1, 2017, a
contract entered into at the direction of the commission, whether or
not the commission is a party to the contract.  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.  No less frequently than once a year, the commission shall
make the following information about each contract that the
commission enters into available free of charge on its Internet Web
site:
   (a) The names, addresses, and points of contact of the parties to
the contract.
   (b) The goods and services requested, as applicable.
   (c) The contract value.
  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. 
  SEC. 4.    Section 324.9 is added to the Public
Utilities Code, to read:
   324.9.  Commencing July 1, 2017, the requirements specified in
Section 324.7 apply to a contract entered into at the direction of
the commission, whether or not the commission is a party to the
contract.