BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2760
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 28, 2014

                    ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON UTILITIES AND COMMERCE
                               Steven Bradford, Chair
            AB 2760 (Utilities and Commerce) - As Introduced:  March, 24,  
                                        2014
           
          SUBJECT  :   Public utilities: contracting: women, minority, and  
          disabled veteran business enterprises.

           SUMMARY  :   Clarifies applicability of the minority, women, and  
          disabled veteran business enterprises (MWDE) procurement for  
          renewable energy providers by adding a definition that  
          references the existing definition of renewable energy in the  
          Renewable Energy Portfolio statute.  

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)   States the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC)  
               shall require each electrical, gas, water, wireless  
               telecommunications service provider, and telephone  
               corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding  
               twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) and their  
               commission-regulated subsidiaries and affiliates, to submit  
               annually, a detailed and verifiable plan for increasing  
               procurement from women, minority, and disabled veteran  
               business enterprises in all categories, including, but not  
               limited to, renewable energy, wireless telecommunications,  
               broadband, smart grid, and rail projects. (Public Utilities  
               Code �8283 (a))

          2)   Requires the PUC to provide a report to the Legislature on  
               September 1 of year on the progress of activities  
               undertaken by each electrical, gas, water, wireless  
               telecommunications service provider, and telephone  
               corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding  
               twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) pursuant to the  
               implementation of the woman, minority, and disabled veteran  
               business enterprise development programs. (Public Utilities  
               Code �8283 (e)(1))

          3)   States the PUC shall, by rule or order, adopt criteria for  
               verifying and determining the eligibility of woman and  
               minority business enterprises for procurement contracts  
               (Public Utilities Codes �8284 (a)(1))








                                                                  AB 2760
                                                                  Page  2


           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown.

           COMMENTS  :   This is a committee bill that is noncontroversial  
          and technical in nature.

           MWDE statutes  : The Public Utilities Code for MWDE procurement  
          does not define renewable energy for purposes of this program.  
          Current law requires annual plans from electric, gas, and  
          telecommunication corporations to include short- and long-term  
          goals and timetables, but not quotas, and shall include methods  
          for encouraging both prime contractors and grantees to engage  
          women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises in  
          subcontracts in all categories that provide subcontracting  
          opportunities including renewable energy.

          This bill clarifies applicability of MWDE procurement for  
          renewable energy providers.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    DaVina Flemings / U. & C. / (916)  
          319-2083