Public contracts: Department of Transportation: bid preferences: employee stock ownership plans.

Existing law establishes the Department of Transportation and requires it to improve and maintain the state highways. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into any contracts required for the performance of its duties, as provided. Existing law establishes bid preferences in public contracting for certain types of bidders, including, but not limited to, small business and microbusiness bidders. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2028, require the department to provide certain bid preferences to a contractor with an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) that bids on a state-funded construction contract, as specified. The bill would make it unlawful for a person or contractor to engage in specified behaviors related to the fraudulent obtaining or retaining of an ESOP bid preference and would subject a person or contractor engaged in those behaviors to a suspension from bidding on or participating in any contract with the department for certain periods and specified civil penalties.