Section 13997.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 13997.
in effect(a)
With respect to international trade and investment offices or international trade show or activities related to promoting international trade and investment events funded in whole or in part by state and nonstate funds pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 13996.41, all of the following shall apply:
(1)
(A)
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development may accept moneys, including, but not limited to, state, federal, and private sector funds, for the purposes of operating any international trade and investment office or international trade show or activity related to promoting international trade and investment events, subject to Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000).
(B)
(i)
A donor shall not donate more than 25 percent of the annual budget of an international trade and investment office in a calendar year.
(ii)
The donor may specify the international trade and investment office or international trade show or activity related to promoting international trade and investment events for which the funds shall be used.
(C)
Funds received pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 13996.41 shall be deposited into the Economic Development and Trade Promotion Account, which is hereby established in the Special Deposit Fund (Article 2 (commencing with Section 16370) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4) within the State Treasury.
(D)
(i)
Notwithstanding Section 13340, the Director of the
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development may expend funds in the Economic Development and Trade Promotion Account, and any other state, federal, or private funds authorized for purposes of this subdivision, by entering into goods and services contracts using those funds as necessary to support international market development activities, including, but not limited to, trade shows, trade missions, promotional events, and seminars, as well as staffing support for those activities, not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), without regard to fiscal year, for the purposes of this subdivision.
(ii)
Justification and approval from the director shall be required for contracts that exceed this threshold.
(iii)
The director may also pursue activities that directly benefit the industry sources from which the funds are derived.
(iv)
Notwithstanding any other law, any goods and services contract entered into by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development pursuant to this subparagraph shall be exempt from any contracting requirements applicable only to state contracts, including, but not limited to, Section 10295 of the Public Contract Code.
(E)
(i)
Funds in the Economic Development and Trade Promotion Account may be allocated to an international trade and investment office or an international trade show or activities related to promoting international trade and investment events.
(ii)
If allocated to an international trade and investment office, funds shall be maintained by that office in an account. Records of donations received and expenditures made pursuant to this section shall be subject to public
disclosure.
(2)
For each donation that it receives to fund an international trade and investment office or international trade show or activity related to promoting international trade and investment events, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development shall post a report on its internet website within 30 days of receiving that donation. The report shall contain all of the following information: name and address of the donor; amount of the donation; date the donation was made; name and address of the entity receiving or using the donation; a brief description of the goods or services provided or purchased, if any; and a description of the specific purpose or event for which the donation was made, if any.
(b)
Funds from the Economic Development and Trade Promotion Account may be expended for representational allowance expenditures for the purpose of providing the
proper representation of California to foreign government officials and federal officials of the United States, which shall include both of the following:
(1)
Business-related meals that include the participation of both foreign government officials or federal officials of the United States and the California business community, not to exceed 300 percent of established per diem rates.
(2)
Representational gifts, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per item.
(c)
This section does not affect any requirement of the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000)).
References
referencesCal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 10295.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 13996.41.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 81000.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 16370.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 13340.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026