SECTIONS 11148-11148.5 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 11148-11148.5

11148. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
article to assist small businesses in this state in complying with
regulatory standards designed to protect the public.
(b) It is the further intent of the Legislature:
(1) That, to improve compliance results, information be provided
by regulatory agencies by printed material or electronically,
including at each agency's Internet Web site, to all small
businesses, as defined for that purpose, that would state in clear,
plain language the actions required to comply with the regulation.
(2) That each agency that significantly regulates small business
designate at least one individual to serve as the small business
liaison with the role and responsibility of ombudsman for that
agency.

11148.5. (a) Each state agency that significantly regulates small
business or that significantly impacts small business shall designate
at least one person who shall serve as a small business liaison. The
agency shall utilize existing personnel and resources to perform the
duties of small business liaison.
(b) Each state agency that significantly regulates small business
or that significantly impacts small business shall widely publicize
the position of small business liaison in appropriate agency
publications and on the agency's Web site if the agency has a Web
site.
(c) The small business liaison shall be responsible for all of the
following:
(1) Receiving and responding to complaints received by the agency
from small businesses.
(2) Providing technical advice and assisting small businesses in
resolving problems and questions regarding compliance with the agency'
s regulations and relevant statutes.
(3) Reporting small business concerns and, where appropriate,
reporting recommendations to the agency secretary or to the agency
head, as defined in Section 11405.50.
(4) Reviewing and updating, on a semiannual basis, content on the
agency Web site that is accessible through the small business link
provided on the State of California Internet portal pursuant to
Section 11541.5.
(5) Assisting the agency secretary, department director, or
executive officer, as applicable, in ensuring that the procurement
and contracting processes of the applicable entity are administered
in order to meet or exceed the 25 percent small business
participation goal, and developing and sharing innovative procurement
and contracting practices from the public and private sectors to
increase opportunities for small businesses.
(d) The small business liaison shall not advocate for or against
the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any regulation or intervene in
any pending investigation or enforcement action.
(e) For purposes of this section, "small business" has the same
meaning as set forth in Section 14837.