Holden Accountability in Business Bills Approved in Key Assembly Committee

The Assembly Accountability Committee has approved legislation authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), to move long-term unemployed workers to the front of the job line when it comes to state contracts.

AB 1586 will require state contractors to give priority hiring to those who have exhausted their unemployment benefits or who live in high unemployment areas. The bill applies to public service contracts of more than $200,000. It passed on a vote of 10 – 3.

In other legislation, Holden’s AB 1921 will provide more oversight and transparency between private businesses and government agencies by requiring service contractors to give government agencies access to records explaining how the state’s money was spent.

“AB 1921 is a step in the right direction to provide transparency between private businesses and government agencies,” explained Holden. “State agencies and the public should be able to know how taxpayer dollars are being used in full-filling these contracts. It just makes for good business practices when receiving taxpayer funds.”

AB 1921 was approved 8 to 3.