SECTIONS 65054-65054.5 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 65054-65054.5

65054. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the
public interest to aid, counsel, assist, and protect, insofar as is
possible, the interests of small business concerns in order to
preserve free competitive enterprise and maintain a healthy state
economy.
(b) In order to advocate the causes of small business and to
provide small businesses with the information they need to survive in
the marketplace, there is created within the Office of Planning and
Research the Office of Small Business Advocate.
(c) The advocate shall post on its Internet Web site the name and
telephone number of the small business liaison designated pursuant to
Section 14846.

65054.1. The following definitions apply to this article, unless
otherwise indicated:
(a) "Advocate" means the California Small Business Advocate who is
also the Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate.
(b) "Director" means the Director of the Office of Small Business
Advocate.
(c) "Office" means the Office of Small Business Advocate.

65054.3. (a) The Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate
shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the
Governor.
(b) The Governor shall appoint the employees that are needed to
accomplish the purposes of Section 65054, this section, and Section
65054.4.
(c) The duties and functions of the advocate shall include all of
the following:
(1) Serve as the principal advocate in the state on behalf of
small businesses, including, but not limited to, advisory
participation in the consideration of all legislation and
administrative regulations that affect small businesses, and advocacy
on state policy and programs related to small businesses on disaster
preparedness and recovery including providing technical assistance.
(2) Represent the views and interests of small businesses before
other state agencies whose policies and activities may affect small
business.
(3) Enlist the cooperation and assistance of public and private
agencies, businesses, and other organizations in disseminating
information about the programs and services provided by state
government that are of benefit to small businesses, and information
on how small businesses can participate in, or make use of, those
programs and services.
(4) Issue a report every two years evaluating the efforts of state
agencies and, where appropriate, specific departments that
significantly regulate small businesses to assist minority and other
small business enterprises, and making recommendations that may be
appropriate to assist the development and strengthening of minority
and other small business enterprises.
(5) Consult with experts and authorities in the fields of small
business investment, venture capital investment, and commercial
banking and other comparable financial institutions involved in the
financing of business, and with individuals with regulatory, legal,
economic, or financial expertise, including members of the academic
community, and individuals who generally represent the public
interest.
(6) Determine the desirability of developing a set of rational,
objective criteria to be used to define small business, and develop
that criteria, if appropriate.
(7) Seek the assistance and cooperation of all state agencies and
departments providing services to, or affecting, small business,
including the small business liaison designated pursuant to Section
14846, to ensure coordination of state efforts.
(8) Receive and respond to complaints from small businesses
concerning the actions of state agencies and the operative effects of
state laws and regulations adversely affecting those businesses.
(9) Counsel small businesses on how to resolve questions and
problems concerning the relationship of small business to state
government.
(10) Maintain, publicize, and distribute an annual list of persons
serving as small business ombudsmen throughout state government.
(11) Consult with the Department of Transportation in the
development and administration of the Small and Emerging Contractor
Technical Assistance Program established pursuant to Article 2.6
(commencing with Section 14137) of Chapter 2 of Part 5 of Division 3
of Title 2.

65054.4. (a) Each agency of the state shall furnish to the advocate
the reports, documents, and information that are public records and
that the director deems necessary to carry out his or her functions
under this chapter.
(b) The advocate shall prepare and submit a written annual report
to the Governor and to the Legislature that describes the activities
and recommendations of the office.
(c) The advocate may establish a centralized interactive telephone
referral system to assist small and minority businesses in their
operations, including governmental requirements, such as taxation,
accounting, and pollution control, and to provide information
concerning the agency from which more specialized assistance may be
obtained. The advocate may establish and advertise a telephone number
to serve this centralized interactive telephone referral system.

65054.5. In addition to its other responsibilities under this
article, the advocate shall do the following:
(a) Develop on its Internet Web site, and update as necessary, a
handbook about emergency preparedness, responses to emergencies, and
recovery strategies for small businesses.
(b) Conduct, no later than July 1, 2008, at least three public
meetings, and one public meeting every other year thereafter, to
share best practices for small business disaster preparedness. The
meetings shall be held in consultation with regional and statewide
small business organizations and shall take place in different
locations throughout the state.