Public contracts: Buy American.

The California Buy American Act requires that a governing body of any political subdivision, municipal corporation, or district, and any public officer or person charged with the letting of contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of public works or for purchasing materials for public use to only let those contracts to a person who agrees to use or supply materials produced or manufactured in the United States, as prescribed. Existing law does not apply this requirement to specified medical and scientific equipment and instruments, sewing machines, printing presses, or office machines or supplies, as specified. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2014, also apply a similar requirement to public contracts let for the purchase or lease of any manufactured tangible personal property or for any materials or structural components to be incorporated into real property, and would provide for specified exceptions, as provided. This bill would repeal those provisions that prohibit the application of the existing United States-made preference to specified medical and scientific equipment and instruments, sewing machines, printing presses, or office machines or supplies. By imposing new duties upon local governments with respect to public contracts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would also make related changes. 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.