In this post last month, I wrote about SB 861 authored by Senator Ellen Corbett. This bill would prohibit a "scrutinized company" from bidding on or submitting a proposal for a contract with a state agency. Although the bill was amended on April 7, 2011 to clarify some of the language, the author has so far declined to correct numerous embarrasing technical errors that I pointed out in this comment letter (for example, referring to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Exchange Commission).
The bill is scheduled to be heard today by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, which is chaired by Senator Roderick Wright. Accordingly to the committee consultant's analysis, concerns exist whether it is premature for California to enact legislation before the Securities and Exchange Commission adopts its own conflict minerals rules. As Broc Romanek reported yesterday in this post, the SEC has recently pushed back its estimate of when it will adopt its final rules to August-December.
The committee analysis notes substantial support for and opposition to SB 861.
Supporters include:
Action Evangelique En Prison, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Africa Faith and Justice Network; Amnesty International; California Coalition Against Sexual Assault; California Commission on the Status of Women; California National Organization for Women; Coalition for Free and Democratic Elections in Congo; Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking; Consumer Federation of California; Earth Rights International; Enough!; Falling Whistles Feminist Majority; Free the Slaves; Global Witness; Human Rights Watch; Program for Torture Victims; Responsible Sourcing Network; St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach; Stop Genocide Now; and Union for Democracy and Social Progress.
Opponents Include:
California Chamber of Commerce; California Chapter of the American Fence Association; California Fence Contractors Association; California Manufacturers and Technology Association; California Retailers Association; Consumer Electronics Association; CTIA; Engineering Contractors Association; Flasher Barricade Association; and Marin Builders Association
