Bill to speed up CA business filings goes to governor

A bill intended to eliminate a two-month delay in processing business paperwork in California is headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

AB113 grants $1.6 million to the Secretary of State’s office to process a backlog of 122,000 applications. Businesses cannot hire employees until the office has processed the forms.

The bill passed the Assembly on a 60-5 vote Monday, with all opposing votes coming from Republicans.

The Senate had reduced funding from the $2 million initially appropriated by the Assembly.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen will be required to report to the Legislature monthly about her office’s progress in reducing the backlog.

Additional changes are expected in the coming months. They would require business documents to be processed within five days and provide money to meet that requirement.