OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are annex to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. They are recommendations providing principles and standards for responsible business conduct for multinational corporations operating in or from countries adhered to the Declaration. The Guidelines are legally non-binding. Originally the Declaration and the Guidelines were adopted by the OECD in 1976 and revised in 1979, 1982, 1984, 1991 and 2000^{[citation needed]}.

Basic elements[link]

The Guidelines cover business ethics on:

• employment
• human rights
• environment
• information disclosure
• combating bribery
• consumer interests
• science and technology
• competition
• taxation

Institutions[link]

National Contact Points[link]

According to the OECD Council decision each adhering country has to set up a National Contact Point (NCP). The National Contact Point is an entity responsible for the promotion of the Guidelines on a national level. An NCP handles all enquiries and matters related to the Guidelines in that specific country, including investigating complaints about a company operating in, or headquartered in that country. Some NCPs are based in a relevant government department; some are independent structures comprising government officials, trade unions, employers unions and sometimes NGOs.

OECD Investment Committee[link]

OECD Investment Committee is the OECD body responsible for overseeing the functioning of the Guidelines and implementation of all OECD investment instruments. The Committee consists member states' senior officials from treasuries, economics, trade and industry, and foreign affairs ministries and central banks. All OECD member states are members of the Investment Committee. Argentina and Brazil are observers while Estonia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia participate in the work of the Committee on issues related to the Guidelines.

Advisory committees[link]

BIAC[link]

• The Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD

TUAC[link]

• The Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD

Adhered countries[link]

See also[link]

• Multilateral Agreement on Investment
• OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

External links[link]

• Text of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• Contact information of the NCPs
• OECD Watch
• TUAC OECD Guidelines Website

S. Joseph Simitian
Simitian at the TeachAIDS inaugural gala, 2010
Member of the California Senate from the 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 6, 2004
Preceded by	Byron Sher
Member of the California State Assembly from the 21st district
In office December 4, 2000 – December 6, 2004
Preceded by	Ted Lempert
Succeeded by	Ira Ruskin
Member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from the 5th District
In office December 2, 1996 – December 4, 2000
Preceded by	Dianne McKenna
Succeeded by	Liz Kniss
Palo Alto City Councillor
In office December 7, 1992 – December 2, 1996
Personal details
Born	(1953-02-01) February 1, 1953 (age 59) Palo Alto, California
Nationality	Armenian-American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Hughes
Residence	Palo Alto, California
Alma mater	Colorado College Stanford University University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Attorney Businessman City Planner

Saren Joseph Simitian (born February 1, 1953) is a Democratic California State Senator elected in 2004.^[1] Simitian represents the 11th Senate District, which encompasses all or part of 13 cities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.

Simitian chairs the California Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources. He is the author of California's 20% renewable energy portfolio standard and California's data breach notification law, which requires companies and agencies to notify individuals when their personal information is compromised.^[2]

Simitian also authored several high profile transportation safety laws, including California's hands-free cell phone bill.^[3][4]

Family[link]

Joe Simitian is married to Mary Hughes, a Bay Area political consultant. Simitian proposed to Hughes on election night in 1996 upon being elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.^[5]

Education[link]

• Palo Alto High School Class of 1970
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude (with academic honors), Colorado College
• Master of Arts, International Policy Studies, Stanford University
• Master of City Planning, University of California, Berkeley
• Juris Doctor, University of California, Berkeley School of Law

Early political career[link]

Joe Simitian served as President of the Palo Alto School Board from 1983 to 1991.^[6] He was on the Palo Alto City Council from 1992 to 1996 and served as Mayor for part of that time.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors[link]

Simitian was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in November 1996. From 1997 to 2000 he represented District 5 (Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Mountain View, Saratoga, and Stanford, as well as portions of Sunnyvale and San Jose).

State Assembly[link]

Simitian was elected to the California State Assembly's 21st District in November 2000, and re-elected to a second term in November 2002.

State Senate[link]

Simitian was elected to the California State Senate in November 2004 and is currently serving as State Senator for District 11. He defeated former Assemblyman and San Mateo County Supervisor Ted Lempert in the Democratic primary election, also prevailing in the general election. Simitian was re-elected to a second term in 2008. His current term ends in 2012.

Legislation[link]

Some of Joe Simitian's notable pieces of legislation include:^[7]

• AB 700: Security breach notification law (2001)
• AB 2140: Criminalize elder abuse (2002)
• AB 2474: Antifreeze bittering (2002)
• AB 2672: Cruise ship sewage dumping ban (2004)
• SB 107: 20% Renewable energy portfolio (2005)
• SB 201: Sustainable marine aquaculture (2005)
• SB 1613: Hands-free cell phone law (2006)
• SB 28: Prohibition on texting while driving (2007)
• SB 1298: Education information system (2008)

According to the New York Times:

Simitian, who led a successful fight to ban motorists from sending text messages and using hand-held phones, has reintroduced a bill that failed last year to fine bicyclists $20 for similar multitasking. . . . Mr. Simitian is proposing the $20 fine on bicyclists who send text messages and a $30 increase on the existing $20 penalty for doing the same activity while driving a car, a difference that he said reflects the relative risk the behavior poses to others. “At some point,” he said, “you do have to simply rely on the good judgment of folks as they go through their daily lives.” Mr. Simitian added that he believed that efforts to legislate against distraction outside the car could diminish the seriousness of hard-fought campaigns and laws meant to curb distracted driving. “Is there a problem out there with distracted pedestrians? I’d be the first to acknowledge it,” he said. But, he added, “It’s appropriate to distinguish between 4,000 pounds of steel and glass coming at you and a pedestrian who may well put themselves at risk but probably poses less of a risk to the general public.”^[8]

Committees[link]

Simitian serves on the following Senate committees:^[9]

• Chair, Environmental Quality Committee
• Member, Budget Committee
  • Chair, Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy, and Transportation
• Member, Education Committee
• Member, Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee
• Member, Natural Resources and Water Committee
• Member, Transportation and Housing Committee
• Chair, Select Committee on Privacy
• Chair, Select Committee on Delta Conservation, Conveyance, and Governance
• Member, Select Committee on Delta Stewardship and Sustainability
• Member, Select Committee on Climate Change and A.B. 32 Implementation

Awards[link]

Simitian has received the following awards (partial list):^[10]

• Californians Against Waste, Legislator of the Year
• Palo Alto Educators Association, Friend of Education Award
• Sierra Club, In Recognition of a Lifetime of Commitment
• Palo Alto Stanford Heritage Award, Preservationist of the Year
• Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee, Friend of BAYMEC Award
• Junior Statesman Foundation, Distinguished Leader Award
• Housing Action Coalition, Housing Leadership Award
• Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center, Friend of the DeFrank Center Award

Community service[link]

The following are some of Simitian's other activities:^[11]

Current[link]

• Board of Directors, American Leadership Forum – Silicon Valley
• Board of Advisors, Adolescent Counseling Services
• Board of Advisors, O'Neill Sea Odyssey
• Honorary Council Member, Leadership Mountain View
• Advisory Team, San Mateo County Service Learning Project
• Trustee Emeritus, Junior State of America

Past[link]

• Co-Chair, Housing Leadership Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
• Board of Advisors, Clara-Mateo Alliance, Inc.
• Board of Directors, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
• Steering Committee, Bay Area Council
• Member, California UN 50 Committee
• Explorer Scouts Advisor, Law Explorer Post No. 804
• North County Allocations Committee, United Way of Santa Clara County
• President, Friends of the Children's Theatre
• President of the Santa Clara County School Boards' Association
• President of the League of California Cities Peninsula Division
• Chairperson of the Santa Clara County Intergovernmental Council (IGC)
• Representative of the President of the United States, 1994 U.S. Delegation to Observe Elections in El Salvador
• Elections Supervisor, 1997 and 1998 Bosnian Elections
• Volunteer, International Rescue Committee (IRC) 1999 refugee relief and resettlement efforts in Albania and Kosovo

External links[link]

• State Senate website
• Campaign website
• Facebook page
• Ballotopedia
• Election History – Join California

References[link]

v t e Members of the California State Senate President of the Senate: Gavin Newsom (D) President pro Tempore: Darrell Steinberg (D) Majority Leader: Ellen Corbett (D) Minority Leader: Bob Huff (R)        Ted Gaines (R)    Noreen Evans (D)    Mark Leno (D)    Doug LaMalfa (R)    Lois Wolk (D)    Darrell Steinberg (D)    Mark DeSaulnier (D)    Leland Yee (D)    Loni Hancock (D)    Ellen Corbett (D)    Joe Simitian (D)    Anthony Cannella (R)    Elaine Alquist (D)    Tom Berryhill (R)    Sam Blakeslee (R)    Michael Rubio (D)    Sharon Runner (R)    Jean Fuller (R)    Tony Strickland (R)    Alex Padilla (D)    Carol Liu (D)    Kevin de León (D)    Fran Pavley (D)    Edward Hernández (D)    Roderick Wright (D)    Curren Price (D)    Alan Lowenthal (D)    Ted Lieu (D)    Bob Huff (R)    Ronald Calderon (D)    Bob Dutton (R)    Gloria McLeod (D)    Mimi Walters (R)    Lou Correa (D)    Tom Harman (R)    Joel Anderson (R)    Bill Emmerson (R)    Mark Wyland (R)    Christine Kehoe (D)    Juan Vargas (D)    Democratic (25)    Republican (15) California State Legislature California State Assembly California State Senate