(a) Each agency of the state shall furnish to the advocate the reports, documents, and information that are public records and that the advocate deems necessary to carry out the advocate’s functions under this chapter.

(b) (1) 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, including an evaluation of 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.

(2) The annual report prepared by the advocate shall also include details regarding the office’s activities to support procurement participation by small businesses, microbusinesses, disabled veteran business enterprises, and businesses owned by women, minorities, or members of the LGBTQ community that also qualify as a small business, microbusiness, or disabled veteran business enterprise. The report shall also include information on state agency compliance and implementation of “economic equity first” action plans and policies, developed pursuant to Section 11148.5, by state agency liaisons and advocates. Each state agency shall provide information regarding its activities to the advocate upon request.

(c) (1) The advocate may establish a centralized interactive telephone referral system and internet website 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.

(2) The advocate shall establish on the GO-Biz internet website or the advocate’s internet website an internet web portal that includes, at a minimum, all of the following:

(A) Information on how to receive assistance in identifying and understanding the state’s regulatory requirements. This information shall include:

(i) The name, telephone number, internet website, and email of the small business liaison designated pursuant to Section 11148.5 to assist small businesses with understanding and adhering to the regulatory requirements of the state entities in which they serve.

(ii) The internet website developed and maintained by GO-Biz to identify licensing, permitting, and registration requirements of state agencies, pursuant to the requirements of Section 12097.1.

(B) Information on how to receive assistance in certifying as a small business or disabled veteran business enterprise, and identifying and participating in state procurement opportunities shall be easily accessible from the home page of the GO-Biz internet website. This information shall include:

(i) The name, telephone number, internet website, and email of the small business advocate designated pursuant to Section 14846 to assist small businesses in contracting with the state entities in which they serve.

(ii) Contact information for the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services established pursuant to Section 14839.

(iii) A link to the procurement web page required by Section 14842.1.

(iv) Links to interactive web pages, where known, that support small businesses in identifying current and upcoming procurement opportunities offered through state government and any public utility, as defined by § 216 of the Public Utilities Code.

(C) Information about emergency preparedness, responses to emergencies, and recovery strategies for small businesses. This information shall be developed and updated in consultation with relevant state agencies and emergency responders.

(D) A link to the Energy Upgrade California internet website to assist small business owners in accessing information on the availability of various programs promoting the efficient use of energy.

(E) Information on programs administered through the statewide network of small business financial development corporations. Programs covered shall include loan guarantees, direct lending, surety bond guarantees, and disaster loans. Information shall be presented in a manner appropriate to address the needs of both small businesses and existing and potential financial institutions and financial companies.

(F) Information on how to identify and access services provided through the statewide network of small business technical assistance centers, including, but not limited to, small business development centers, women business centers, veteran business outreach centers, procurement technical assistance centers, and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Beginning on or before February 15, 2024, this information shall also include a list with links to current awardees of the California Small Business Development Technical Assistance Act of 2022 (Article 7 (commencing with Section 12100.60) of Chapter 1.6 of Part 2).

(G) Information on and links to financial resources and business incentives offered by the state to small businesses. In addition to other methods for displaying this information, as funding is available, the advocate shall make the information searchable through an interactive web-based tool to assist small businesses in identifying available resources and incentives for which those small businesses may be eligible. There shall also be a link to the internet web portal maintained by the California State Library, as described in Section 8333.1.

(d) The office shall ensure that the internet web portal required by subdivision (c) is accessible and provides helpful information to a diverse set of small businesses, including women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses in disadvantaged or low-income communities.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 423, Sec. 3. (AB 258) Effective January 1, 2024.)