High-speed rail: contracts: small businesses.

Existing law, the California High-Speed Rail Act, creates the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed rail system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law, pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, approved by the voters as Proposition 1A at the November 4, 2008, general election, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related purposes. Under federal law, funding is made available for allocation nationally to high-speed rail and other related projects. Existing law provides for various programs to encourage the participation of small businesses, as certified by the Department of General Services, in state agency contracts, and sets forth the duties of the Director of General Services and the directors of other state agencies in this regard. Existing law imposes various penalties for certain unlawful actions in obtaining classification as a small business or in engaging in other unlawful actions. This bill would enact similar penalties relative to the certification of businesses as small business enterprises by the authority and for other unlawful actions.