383.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the Public Utilities Commission adopted the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) pursuant to Decision 11-12-035 (Phase 1 Decision Establishing Interim Research, Development And Demonstration, And Renewables Programs Funding Levels), as modified by Decision 13-01-016 (Order Modifying Decision (D.) 11-12-035 and Denying Rehearing of Decision, As Modified), and Decision 12-05-037 (Phase 2 Decision Establishing Purposes and Governance for EPIC and Establishing Funding Collections for 2013–2020), as corrected by Decision 12-07-001 (Order Correcting Error).(b) To promote greater competition among suppliers of research, development, and demonstration programs and to expand the available base and encourage greater economic opportunity for women, minority, and disabled veteran-owned businesses historically left out of research, development, and demonstration programs, the commission shall establish a program through an existing or new proceeding, or by modifying an existing general order, to encourage the use of women, minority, and disabled veteran-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors for all grants, contracts, subsidies, financing, and activities administered through the EPIC established by Decisions 11-12-035 and 12-05-037, and related and subsequent decisions, consistent with General Order 156 of the commission.
(c) Not later than 2014, the commission shall include a status report on its progress pursuant to this section in increasing the participation of women, minority, and disabled veteran-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors in its annual report to the Legislature pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 8283.
(d) Nothing in this section provides the commission with any authority to order the collection of the moneys consistent with Decision 11-12-035, Decision 12-05-037, or to increase the amount collected through the EPIC.