Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.
By The Way. . .
Governor Signs Disabled Veterans Preference Bill. Governor Gray Davis
has signed into law AB 1633 (Chapter 133/1999); a bill authored by the Assembly
Committee on Veteran Affairs and designed to provide veteran preference in
contracts for the construction and modernization of schools. The bill requires
school districts to ensure that at least 3% of the state construction funds
go to contracts awarded to disabled veteran business enterprises on an annual
basis. It is interesting that the requirement is based on a "yearly" basis
and not project-by-project.
The requirement is stated as a "participation goal", just as in current law. While the AB 1633 extends the preference to the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1998 (Prop. 1A), it appears that the "good faith efforts" provisions of current law remain unchanged. It will be important to follow the expected OPSC implementing guidance to ensure that construction bids are in compliance with this requirement.