Personal services contracts.

Existing law authorizes state agencies to use personal services contracts if, among other things, the contract does not adversely affect the state's affirmative action efforts and the contract includes assurance that the contractor's hiring practices meet applicable nondiscrimination, affirmative action standards. Existing law prohibits the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. This bill would instead prohibit the personal services contract from adversely affecting the state's equal employment opportunity efforts and would require the contract to include assurances that the contractor's hiring practices meet applicable nondiscrimination, equal employment opportunity standards.