SACRAMENTO - The first bill authored by Assembly Member Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this week.

AB 348, will streamline the certification process for businesses that seek to obtain contracts from both local and state government.

"This is a common sense law designed to assist small businesses in California by eliminating a cumbersome piece of red tape," said Assembly Member Bass.

The new law allows businesses to file a single application to become certified to do business in a city or county and the State of California. Prior to the Governor's signature businesses had to file multiple certification forms, one to do business in a city or county and another with the Department of General Services (DGS) to do business with the state of California. DGS would not recognize a local government's small business certification even when the certification program is substantially similar to the state's certification.

AB 348 goes into effect January 2006.