SACRAMENTO, CA - Assemblymember Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) was successful in moving Assembly Bill 1386 out of the Assembly. AB 1386 seeks to encourage cable television corporations and direct broadcast satellite providers to voluntarily adopt a plan for increasing women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprise procurement and to voluntarily report activity in this area to the Legislature on an annual basis.

"As the state and federal government make public funds available to expand broadband services in rural and underserved urban communities, it is important that we encourage companies that will benefit from these funds to provide contract opportunities to small businesses owned by women, minorities, and disabled veterans," Assemblymember Bradford said.

Existing law already requires public utilities under the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to report on their procurement with diverse businesses. These reports are collected by the CPUC on an annual basis and show procurement activities based on ethnicity, gender and disabled veteran status. This reporting has encouraged major companies, such as AT&T and San Diego Gas & Electric, to work with California’s diverse business owners to achieve greater profits.

"In a state where women and people of color make-up more than 50% of the population and small businesses employ over 50% of the workforce it is essential that we encourage the growth of diverse small businesses in order to achieve economic success in the state," Assemblymember Bradford said. "Historically, minority and women owned businesses have been ignored in emerging technology industries. This bill just sends a reminder to companies that will benefit from public funds that there are highly qualified diverse business owners out in the marketplace who are ready to work."

CONTACT: David Johnson, 916-319-2051