Public contracts: Local Agency Public Construction Act: reporting.

Existing law, the Local Agency Public Construction Act, sets forth the requirements for competitive bidding on various types of contracts awarded by local agencies. Existing law, the State Contract Act, requires the Department of General Services to make available a report on state contracting activity containing specified information. This bill would require a participating local public entity, as defined, commencing January 1, 2026, and monthly thereafter, to compile and submit to the Office of Planning and Research prescribed information on the entity's contracting activity similar to the information required for the State Contract Act report. The bill would require the Office of Planning and Research, commencing July 1, 2026, to develop and maintain a public online database and accompanying data dictionary compiling the submitted data on its internet website. Commencing January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the bill would require the Office of Planning and Research to review the database established pursuant to the bill and, together with the participating local public entities, make recommendations to the Legislature on further transparency and reporting improvements for requiring local public entities to submit similar data, as specified. The bill would require the California State Auditor, if approved by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, to conduct an audit of the program on or before January 1, 2029. The bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2030. By imposing additional duties on specified local public entities, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.