Public contracts: contract document distribution.

Existing law, the State Contract Act and the Local Agency Public Construction Act, sets forth the procedures pursuant to which state and local agencies may solicit and evaluate bids or proposals for, and award, contracts for the construction of public works. The State Contract Act requires a department, as defined, to comply with its provisions. This bill would require a state department and a local agency, upon request from a contractor plan service, to provide an electronic copy of a project's contract documents to the contractor plan room at no charge. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.