SB 448: Local government: organization: districts.

(1)Existing law requires the officer of each local agency, as defined, who has charge of the financial records of the local agency, to furnish to the Controller a report of all the financial transactions of the local agency during the next preceding fiscal year within 7 months after the close of each fiscal year. Existing law also requires a report of an audit of a special districts accounts and records made by a certified public accountant or public accountant to be filed with the Controller and the county auditor of the county in which the special district is located within 12 months of the end of the fiscal year or years under examination.

This bill would instead require special districts defined by a specified provision to file those audit reports with the Controller and special districts defined by another specified provision to file those audit reports with the Controller and with the local agency formation commission of either the county in which the special district is located or, if the special district is located in 2 or more counties, with each local agency formation commission within each county in which the district is located. The bill would also require the Controller to publish on the Controllers Internet Web site a comprehensive list of special districts on or before July 1, 2019, and to annually update that list.

(2)The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 provides the exclusive authority and procedure for the initiation, conduct, and completion of changes of organization and reorganization for cities and districts, as specified.

This bill would require the Controller to create a list of special districts that are inactive, as provided. The bill would also require the Controller to publish this list and to notify a local agency formation commission in the county or counties in which the special district is located if the Controller has included the special district in this list. The bill would require a local agency formation commission to initiate proceedings for the dissolution of any special district that is an inactive district and to dissolve those districts. The bill would define the term inactive district for these purposes. This bill would also make conforming changes. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.