Small nonprofit performing arts organizations: payroll and paymaster services: grants.

Existing law, the Dixon-Zenovich-Maddy California Arts Act of 1975, establishes the Arts Council, consisting of 11 appointed members. Existing law specifies the duties of the council, including, among others, encouraging artistic awareness, participation, and expression, helping independent local groups develop their own art programs, promoting the employment of artists and those skilled in crafts in both the public and private sector, awarding prizes or directing grants to individuals or organizations, as specified, and establishing grant application criteria and procedure. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require the council to establish and administer the California Nonprofit Performing Arts Paymaster program. The bill would require the council to issue a request for proposals and award contracts to be a California nonprofit performing arts paymaster on a competitive basis to 2 or more nonprofit contractors to provide payroll and paymaster services to small nonprofit performing arts organizations, as defined. The bill would require the council to establish a criteria to rate and rank applicants and establish necessary contract terms. The bill would, upon appropriation, require the council to provide a nonprofit contractor selected to provide payroll services with a grant award in an amount necessary to fund the initial startup costs. This bill would authorize a nonprofit contractor providing services to charge a fee to a nonprofit performing arts organization that receives payroll or paymaster services, provided that the fee does not exceed the cost of providing the services. The bill would require a nonprofit contractor that provides services under these provisions to submit an annual report to the council by July 31 of each year that provides specified information from the prior fiscal year, including, among other things, a detailed accounting of all fees charged and collected.