BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                     AB 2332
                                                                     Page  1


        ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
        AB 2332 (Eng)
        As Introduced  February 19, 2010
        Majority vote 

         BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS     7-2APPROPRIATIONS      12-5        
         
         ------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        |Ayes:|Hayashi, Eng, Hernandez,  |Ayes:|Fuentes, Ammiano, Bradford, |
        |     |Hill, Ma, Nava, Ruskin    |     |                            |
        |     |                          |     |Charles Calderon, Coto,     |
        |     |                          |     |Davis, Nava, Hall, Skinner, |
        |     |                          |     |Solorio, Torlakson, Torrico |
        |     |                          |     |                            |
        |-----+--------------------------+-----+----------------------------|
        |Nays:|Emmerson, Smyth           |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller,     |
        |     |                          |     |Nielsen, Norby              |
         ------------------------------------------------------------------- 

         SUMMARY  :  Authorizes the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to  
        suspend or deny a contractor's license to a licensee who fails to  
        resolve tax liabilities assessed by the Board of Equalization (BOE).

         EXISTING LAW  authorizes CSLB to suspend or deny a contractor's  
        license to a licensee who fails to resolve tax liabilities assessed  
        by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the Employment  
        Development Department (EDD), or the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). 

         FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee: 

        1)Costs associated with this legislation would be minor and  
          absorbable within the CSLB and BOE budgets.

        2)Unknown revenue increases to the extent this authority allows BOE  
          to collect a portion of the $68 million in outstanding tax  
          liabilities.

         COMMENTS  :  According to the author's office, "Current law does not  
        authorize BOE to request CSLB to suspend a contractor's license for  
        failure to pay any outstanding taxes, penalties, interest, or fees.   
        By authorizing BOE to request CSLB to deny or suspend a contractor's  
        license for failure to resolve any outstanding final tax or fee  
        liabilities, we would place the agency on equal footing with FTB and  
        EDD, in addition to promoting joint enforcement action among the  
        three tax collection agencies." 

        CSLB issues licenses to contractors who meet safety and experience  
        requirements within their field.  There are more than 316,000  




                                                                     AB 2332
                                                                     Page  2


        licensed contractors in the state, in 43 different licensing  
        classifications.  Current law authorizes CSLB to suspend or deny a  
        contractor's license to a licensee who has unpaid tax liabilities  
        with FTB, EDD, or DIR.

        BOE currently has approximately 2,469 delinquent accounts for  
        construction contractors representing outstanding final tax  
        liabilities over $68 million.  Current state law authorizes BOE to  
        use several collection tools to collect delinquent tax liabilities,  
        including the issuance of:  orders to withhold funds to third parties  
        in possession of the debtor's funds or property; wage garnishments  
        against the debtor; and, warrants against the debtor to seize  
        property.  A BOE analysis states that the suspension or denial of a  
        contractor's license would be used as a last resort for collecting  
        tax liabilities.

        Current state law also provides that an alcoholic beeverage license  
        may be suspended, or a vehicle dealer's license may be revoked, for  
        unpaid tax liabilities.

         Analysis Prepared by  :    Joanna Gin / B.,P. & C.P / (916) 319-3301  
        FN: 0003983