CaliforniaEmployee stock ownership plans: contractors: certification: bid preferences.
What it does
(1) Existing law creates within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development the Office of Small Business Advocate in order to advocate the causes of small business and to provide small businesses with the information they need to survive in the marketplace to be led by the Small Business Advocate. The California Employee Ownership Act requires, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the Office of Small Business Advocate to establish the California Employee Ownership Hub (hub) and to appoint an Employee Ownership Hub Manager (manager) to administer the hub. The act authorizes the manager to be responsible for certain duties, including working with all California state agencies whose regulations and programs affect employee-owned companies, and businesses with the potential to become employee-owned, to enhance opportunities and reduce barriers.
More detail
This bill would require the Director of General Services (director) to issue an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) contractor certificate to a qualified contractor, as defined, that presents a valid and favorable ESOP determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service. The bill would require the director to determine the percentage of ESOP ownership for an applicant and indicate the percentage on the certificate, as specified. The bill would require the director to require that the certificate be renewed every 3 years. The bill would additionally authorize the manager to be responsible for compiling and maintaining a comprehensive bidders list of qualified contractors that have received the certificate from the Director of General Services.
(2) Existing law establishes within the Transportation Agency a Department of Transportation. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to, among other things, plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain those transportation systems that the Legislature has made, or may make, the responsibility of the department, except as specified.
This bill would require, beginning January 1, 2027, the Department of Transportation to provide bid preferences to qualified contractors that have received the certificate based on the percentage of the qualified contractor owned by its ESOP, whenever the department prepares a solicitation for a state-funded construction contract, as specified.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Feb 2Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.Latest
- 2025
- May 23May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- May 12May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- May 2Set for hearing May 12.
- Apr 29From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 920.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 28
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Major
- Apr 23Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Apr 21From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 809.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Rules]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 10Set for hearing April 28 in TRANS. pending receipt.
- Mar 18Set for hearing April 21.
- Mar 12Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and G.O.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 24From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced