Bill Text: CA AB767 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: GO-Biz Information Technology.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2018-09-23 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB767 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB767-Enrolled.html

Enrolled  September 05, 2018
Passed  IN  Senate  August 29, 2018
Passed  IN  Assembly  August 31, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  August 24, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  August 17, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  July 02, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  June 18, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  April 05, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 03, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 767


Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva

February 15, 2017


An act to amend Section 12096.3 of, to amend, renumber, and add Section 12097.1 of, and to add Article 4.3 (commencing with Section 12096.7) to Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, and to repeal Sections 71040 and 71041 of the Public Resources Code, relating to economic development.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 767, Quirk-Silva. GO-Biz Information Technology.
Existing law authorizes various state agencies to issue permits and licenses in accordance with specified requirements to conduct business within this state. Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth.
Existing law requires GO-Biz to establish an electronic online permit assistance center, called the California Government Online to Desktops (CalGold), through the Internet for use by any business or entity subject to a law or regulation to assist that business or entity with complying with those laws or regulations. Existing law requires CalGold to be reviewed periodically, as specified.
This bill would, among other things, provide for a GO-Biz Information Technology Unit within GO-Biz, which would create an online Internet platform, called the California Business Development Portal, that is comprised of 3 elements, including economic and business development-related digital information, the systems and processes used to manage that information, and a public interface capability, as prescribed.
The bill would recast provisions related to CalGold by requiring the GO-Biz Information Technology Unit to establish an electronic online government permit and license assistance center and by renaming the center the California Business License Center. The bill would establish, beginning in the 2018–19 fiscal year, 2 state civil service positions for the purposes of supporting the ongoing enhancement of the functionality of the California Business Development Portal, including the California Business License Center, the California Business Navigator, the California Business Mapping Tool, digital resources, and other online products that improve the state government’s digital ecosystem.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) The Information Technology unit of GO-Biz develops, maintains, and updates information technology solutions for GO-Biz programs aimed at furthering GO-Biz’s goal of economic growth for California.
(b) Since September 2013, the GO-Biz Information Technology Application Portfolio has grown from one information technology staff member and four supported applications to six information technology staff members and sixteen supported applications.
(c) Each new GO-Biz application needs to be regularly updated and fourteen of the sixteen applications are public facing and play an important role in supporting business development in California including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The GO-Biz Internet Web site.
(2) The California Business Portal.
(3) The California Competes Tax Credit application.
(4) The CalGold Permit Assistance Tool.
(5) The California Business Navigator.
(6) CA Made.
(7) The California Business Service Desk.
(8) The IBank Application Portal.
(9) The California Financing Coordinating Committee.
(10) The GO-Biz Salesforce.
(11) The California Business Mapping Tool.
(d) As the home of the world’s most creative information technology companies, California should also be a leader in digital government technologies. The California Business Portal brings the state into alignment with other nations and states that are embracing innovation and the Internet of Things to meet business development challenges at scale while still providing the individualized experience that meets a business’s unique needs.

SEC. 2.

 Section 12096.3 of the Government Code is amended to read:

12096.3.
 The office shall serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. In this capacity, the office may:
(a) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislature new state policies, programs, and actions, or amendments to existing programs, advance statewide economic goals and respond to emerging economic problems and opportunities, and ensure that all state policies and programs conform to the adopted state economic and business development goals.
(b) Coordinate the development of policies and criteria to ensure that federal grants administered or directly expended by state government advance statewide economic goals and objectives.
(c) Market the business and investment opportunities available in California by working in partnership with local, regional, federal, and other state public and private institutions to encourage business development and investment in the state.
(d) Provide, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Economic and demographic data.
(2) Financial information to help link businesses with state and local public and private programs.
(3) Workforce information, including, but not limited to, labor availability, training, and education programs.
(4) Transportation and infrastructure information.
(5) Assistance in obtaining state and local permits.
(6) Information on tax credits and other incentives.
(7) Permitting, siting, and other regulatory information pertinent to business operations in the state.
(e) Establish a well-advertised telephone number, an online interactive and high-performance Internet platform, and an administrative structure that effectively supports the facilitation of business development and investment in the state.
(f) Encourage collaboration among research institutions, startup companies, local governments, venture capitalists, and economic development agencies to promote innovation.
(g) In cooperation with other state, federal, and local governments, foster relationships with foreign and domestic entities to improve the state’s image as a destination for global business investment and expansion.
(h) Conduct research on the state’s business climate, including, but not limited to, research on how the state can remain on the leading edge of innovation and emerging sectors.
(i) Support small businesses by providing information about accessing capital, complying with regulations, and supporting state initiatives that support small business.

SEC. 3.

 Article 4.3 (commencing with Section 12096.7) is added to Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
Article  4.3. GO-Biz Information Technology

12096.7.
 (a) There shall be within the office, the GO-Biz Information Technology Unit, which shall create an online Internet platform, called the California Business Development Portal.
(b) The Business Development Portal shall be an online platform that is comprised of three distinct elements, including economic and business development-related digital information, the systems and processes used to manage that information, and a public interface capability, which includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Storing, retrieving, and exchanging economic and business development-related digital information with due regard to privacy statutes.
(2) An information service detailing business incentives, financing, workforce training, geographic regions in the state, and requirements to establish or engage in business in this state.
(3) Identification and retrieval of economic and business development digital information appropriate for a variety of business types, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, associations, cooperatives, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises.
(4) Identification and retrieval of economic and business development digital information useful for state, federal, and local government agencies and other entities that support economic and business development activities in California.
(5) Accessibility through a variety of electronic presentation formats, including Internet Web sites, mobile applications, and other modes of delivery.
(6) A service or application for an individual, business, or other interested party to establish an online account that enhances the ability to conduct business or economic development activities in California.
(c) The office, in developing new programs or services, shall consider the added value of having all or portions of a program and service accessed digitally, including, but not limited to, undertaking outreach, filing applications, and submitting progress and outcome reports to the office.
(d) The office shall adopt and periodically update a schedule for the buildout and upgrading of the California Business Development Portal. The office shall undertake activities on the schedule after the director determines that funding for this project is available and the project is in alignment with required elements of the state planning practices for the development of state information technology projects.

12096.8.
 Beginning in the 2018–19 fiscal year, there shall be two additional state civil service positions in the GO-Biz Information Technology Unit for the purposes of supporting the ongoing enhancement of the functionality of the California Business Development Portal, including the California Business License Center, the California Business Navigator, the California Business Mapping Tool, digital resources, and other online products that improve the state government’s digital ecosystem.

SEC. 4.

 Section 12097.1 of the Government Code is amended and renumbered to read:

12097.2.
 (a) The director shall ensure that the office’s Internet Web site contains information on the licensing, permitting, and registration requirements of state agencies, and shall include, but not be limited to, information that does all of the following:
(1) Assists individuals with identifying the type of applications, forms, or other similar documents an applicant may need.
(2) Provides a direct link to a digital copy of all state licensing, permitting, and registration applications, forms, or other similar documents where made available for download.
(3) Instructs individuals on how and where to submit applications, forms, or other similar documents.
(b) The director shall ensure that the office’s Internet Web site contains information on the fee requirements and fee schedules of state agencies, and shall include, but not be limited to, information that does all of the following:
(1) Assists individuals with identifying the types of fees and their due dates.
(2) Provides direct links to the fee requirements and fee schedules for all state agencies, where made available for download.
(3) Instructs individuals on how and where to submit payments.
(c) The office shall ensure that the Internet platform is user-friendly and provides accurate, updated information.
(d) (1) Each state agency that has licensing, permitting, or registration authority shall provide direct links to information about its licensing, permitting, and registration requirements and fee schedule to the office.
(2) A state agency shall not use the Internet platform established under this section as the exclusive source of information for the public to access licensing requirements and fees for that agency.
(e) The office may impose a reasonable fee, not to exceed the actual cost to provide the service, as a condition of accessing information on the Internet Web site established under subdivisions (a) and (b).

SEC. 5.

 Section 12097.1 is added to the Government Code, to read:

12097.1.
 (a) The GO-Biz Information Technology Unit shall establish an electronic online government permit and license assistance center through the Internet, which shall be known as the California Business License Center. The California Business License Center shall be available for use by any business or other entity subject to a law or regulation implemented by a state agency, authority, bureau, board, commission, conservancy, council, department, or office, and shall provide a business or other entity with assistance in complying with those laws and regulations.
(b) The California Business License Center shall provide special software, hotlinks, and other online resources and tools that may be used by a business or other entity to streamline and expedite compliance with laws and regulations implemented by a state agency, authority, bureau, board, commission, conservancy, council, department, or office.
(c) The California Business License Center shall, to the extent feasible, incorporate permit assistance activities of local and federal entities and of other entities of the state into its operations.
(d) The GO-Biz Information Technology Unit shall periodically review and, when necessary, update the California Business License Center to assist businesses in the state that would benefit from information on permitting and regulatory compliance.

SEC. 6.

 Section 71040 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.

SEC. 7.

 Section 71041 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.