BILL NUMBER: SB 159INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Nielsen FEBRUARY 3, 2015 An act to amend Section 14839 of the Government Code, relating to state government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 159, as introduced, Nielsen. Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services. Existing law provides for various programs to encourage the participation of small businesses, as certified by the Department of General Services, in state agency contracts, and sets forth the duties of the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services in this regard. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that provision. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 14839 of the Government Code is amended to read: 14839. There is hereby established within the department the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services. The duties of the office shall include: (a) Compiling and maintaining a comprehensive bidders list of qualified small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises, and noting which small businesses also qualify as microbusinesses. (b) Coordinating with the Federal Small Business Administration, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Office of Small Business Development of the Department of Economic and Business Development. (c) Providing technical and managerial aids to small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran businessenterprises,enterprises by conducting workshops on matters in connection with government procurement and contracting. (d) Assisting small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran businessenterprises,enterprises in complying with the procedures for bidding on state contracts. (e) Working with appropriate state, federal, local, and private organizations and business enterprises in disseminating information on bidding procedures and opportunities available to small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran business enterprises. (f) Making recommendations to the department and other state agencies for simplification of specifications and terms in order to increase the opportunities for small business, microbusiness, and disabled veteran business enterprise participation. (g) Developing, by regulation, other programs and practices that are reasonably necessary to aid and protect the interest of small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran business enterprises in contracting with the state. (h) Making efforts to develop, in cooperation with associations representing counties, cities, and special districts, a core statewide small business certification application that may be adopted by all participating entities, with any supplemental provisions to be added as necessary by the respective entities. (i) The information furnished by each contractor requesting a small business or microbusiness preference shall be under penalty of perjury.