BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �







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        |Hearing Date:June 18, 2012         |Bill No:AB                         |
        |                                   |1460                               |
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                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS 
                               AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
                          Senator Curren D. Price, Jr., Chair
                                           

                          Bill No:        AB 1460Author:Huber
                    As Introduced:  January 9, 2012    Fiscal: Yes

        
        SUBJECT:  State government: California Commission on Industrial 
        Innovation. 
        
        SUMMARY:  Repeals the implementing codes for the California Commission 
        on Industrial Innovation (Commission) and deletes one cross reference 
        to the Commission in a separate code.  

        Existing law:
        
        1)Establishes the Commission within the Office of the Governor for 
          purposes of encouraging industrial innovation and developing 
          policies that maintain California's leadership in the national 
          economy.  (Chapter 1.5, of Part 2, of Division 3, of Title 2 of the 
          Government Code (GC) �� 12095-12095.53)

        2)Provides that the Commission shall consist of 25 members, including 
          five from the public sector, six from labor, and ten from industries 
          characterized by industrial innovation.  
        (GC � 12095.10)

        3)Specifies that, for purposes of defining the scope of the 
          Commission, industrial innovation refers to technology based 
          companies that devote at least 5% of sales to research and 
          development and at least 15% of sales to depreciable investments.  
          Companies captured within this definition include, but are not 
          limited to, those making electronic components, computers, 
          peripherals, instruments, communication equipment, robotics, 
          biotechnology, photovoltaic, and aerospace equipment.  (GC � 
          12095.02) 






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        4)Requires the Commission to convene representatives of business, 
          labor, academia and government for purposes of assessing problems 
          inhibiting, and latent opportunities for, industrial innovation 
          throughout the state including:  (GC � 12095.40)

           a)   Assessing and evaluating programs which improve productivity 
             while maintaining regard for worker involvement and satisfaction;

           b)   Identifying means by which industries and universities can 
             cooperate on research and development projects and in the 
             establishment and or expansion of cooperative research and 
             development institutes;

           c)   Identifying models for financing industrial innovation;

           d)   Identifying management techniques necessary for successful 
             industrial innovation; 
           e)   Examining and evaluating the effectiveness of any state 
             programs assisting or hindering industrial innovation; and,

           f)   Identifying shortcomings in the transportation, sewer, water, 
             energy, and waste disposal systems which inhibit existing or 
             future industrially innovative firms.

        1)Establishes the Governor's Office of Business and Economic 
          Development (Office), also known as "GO-Biz," to serve as the lead 
          entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on 
          issues relating to business development, private sector investment, 
          and economic growth.  (Chapter 1.6, of Part 2, of Division 3, of 
          Title 2 of the GC, �� 12096-12098.5)

        2)Provides that the Office may recommend to the Governor and 
          Legislature policies and actions to advance statewide economic goals 
          and respond to emerging economic problems and opportunities;  
          coordinate efforts to ensure federal grants administered or directly 
          expended by the state advance statewide economic goals and 
          objectives; market the business and investment opportunities 
          available in California with both other states and internationally; 
          encourage collaboration among research institutions, startup 
          companies, local governments, venture capitalist and economic 
          development agencies to promote innovation; conduct research on how 
          the state can remain on the leading edge of innovation and emerging 
          sectors; and support small businesses by providing information about 
          accessing capital, complying with regulations, and supporting state 
          initiatives that support small business.
        (GC � 12096.3) 





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        This bill:

        1) Repeals provisions which established the California Commission on 
           Industrial Innovation.

        2) Makes conforming changes.

        
        FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee 
        analysis dated April 25, 2012, costs are "negligible."

        
        COMMENTS:
        
        1.Purpose.  According to the Author:  "The California Commission on 
          Industrial Innovation was created by Executive Order in 1981 
          (B-91-81) and made permanent in statute in 1982.  The Commission was 
          envisioned to recommend effective and aggressive strategies for 
          expanding the state's economy and employment rate.  This Commission 
          no longer exists and its proposed activities are supported by other 
          divisions of government, including the Governor's Office of Economic 
          Development." 

        2.Background.  The Commission, administered through Governor's Office 
          of Planning and Research, was established to encourage the 
          development of high technology industries, develop policies that 
          maintain California's leadership in the national economy and retain 
          the state's international competitive position.

        The focus of the Industrial Commission was to be on technology based 
          companies such as those making or developing electronic components, 
          computers and peripherals, instruments, communications equipment, 
          robotics, biotechnology, photovoltaics, and aerospace equipment. 

        It is unclear if this Commission was convened and how often it may 
          have met or what reports, recommendations or other information may 
          have been generated by this Commission.

         3. Related Legislation.   AB 699  (Portantino and V. Manuel P�rez, of 
           2009) would have updated the requirements for the development of a 
           State Economic Development Strategy, especially in the areas of 
           technology and innovation, and requires it be submitted to the 
           Legislature by May 1, 2010.  This bill was held in Assembly 
           Appropriations Committee.






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          AB 2711  (Portantino, Arambula, Price and Salas, of 2008) would have 
           required the Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing 
           Agency to develop a comprehensive state technology and innovation 
           strategy to guide future state expenditures and activities.  This 
           bill was held under submission in the Assembly Committee on 
           Appropriations.

          AB 2860  (Lieu, of 2007) would have renamed the California Commission 
           on Industrial Innovation (Commission) the California Commission on 
           Manufacturing Competitiveness and Innovation, specified the 
           Commission should avoid recommendations that could diminish certain 
           worker protections, and made conforming changes to the enabling 
           statute.  
         This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

        
        SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:
        
         Support:  None on file as of May 30, 2012.

         Opposition:  None on file as of May 30, 2012.



        Consultant:Bill Gage