BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 569
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Date of Hearing: May 11, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 569 (Bill Berryhill) - As Introduced: February 16, 2011
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 8 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Business Master License Center (BMLC)
within the State and Consumer Services Agency. Specifically,
this bill:
1)Creates the BMLC as a one-stop system for all business
licenses within the state.
2)Establishes the BMLC's duties, which include:
a) Developing and administering a computerized one-stop
licensing system.
b) Identifying types of licenses appropriate for inclusion
in the system.
c) Recommending to the governor and the Legislature the
elimination, consolidation, or other modification of
duplicative, ineffective, or inefficient licensing or
inspection requirements.
3)Lists agencies that are required to participate in the BMLC.
4)States that any other agency be included that the Secretary of
the State and Consumer Services Agency (SCSA) determines has
licensing authority consistent with the purposes of this bill.
5)Permits the governor to appoint a third-party facilitator from
the business community who shall report directly to, and serve
at the pleasure of, the governor.
6)Requires the third-party facilitator to provide oversight over
AB 569
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the creation of the BMLC and the development of the system.
7)Creates the Master License Fund within the State Treasury for
the receipt of administrative fees that shall, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, be used to administer the
BMLC.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Costs in excess of $50 million ($15 million GF) depending on
the number of participating departments and whether or not the
licensing done by the Department of Social Services (DSS)
Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) and the Department of
Public Health (DPH) Licensing and Certification Division (L &
C) are included in the scope of the project. DSS is
responsible for licensing various types of facilities and
workers, including those providing child care services and
foster care. DPH is responsible for licensing all hospitals,
surgical centers, home health agencies, and skilled nursing
facilities in the state.
2)The administration is currently beginning work on a new,
automated licensing system for the Department of Consumer
Affairs (DCA). Over the life of the project, the BreEZe
system could cost up to $50 million (various DCA licensing
funds).
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . AB 569 establishes the BMLC to serve as a one-stop
shop for new and existing businesses to obtain and renew state
licenses, forms and applications. The author contends that
"California's regulatory environment is burdensome and
difficult to navigate." His intent is that by condensing the
many applications, forms, and licenses that businesses must
complete to a single location, California will become more
appealing.
2)Related Legislation . AB 2659 (Tran) of 2010, a substantially
similar bill, was held on this committee's suspense file.
AB 991 (Olsen) of 2011 requires the governor to establish an
Internet Web site to assist the public with licensing,
permitting, and registration requirements of state agencies.
This bill is pending in this committee.
AB 569
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SB 959 (Ducheny) of 2010 recreates the Office of Permit
Assistance under the Governor's Office of Planning and
Research in order to help facilitate state and local level
review of commercial and industrial development projects.
This bill was vetoed.
SB 980 (Huff) of 2010 establishes the BMLC within SCSA, as
specified. This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
AB 978 (V. Manuel Perez) of 2009 requires the State Chief
Information Officer to collaborate with DCA to acquire a new
integrated, enterprise-wide system that will replace the
current licensing and monitoring system being used by DCA.
That bill was held on the Senate Appropriations Committee
suspense file.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081