Section 12098.4.

(a) Each agency of the state shall furnish to the advocate the reports, documents, and information that are public records and that the director deems necessary to carry out his or her functions under this chapter.

(b) The advocate shall prepare and submit a written annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature that describes the activities and recommendations of the office, including an evaluation of the efforts of state agencies and, where appropriate, specific departments, that significantly regulate small businesses to assist minority and other small business enterprises, and making recommendations that may be appropriate to assist the development and strengthening of minority and other small business enterprises.

(c) The advocate may establish a centralized interactive telephone referral system and Internet Web site to assist small and minority businesses in their operations, including governmental requirements, such as taxation, accounting, and pollution control, and to provide information concerning the agency from which more specialized assistance may be obtained. The advocate may establish and advertise a telephone number and an Internet Web site address to serve this centralized interactive telephone referral system and Internet Web site.

(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 475, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2012.)