California State Auditor

California State Auditor
Agency overview
Formed1956; 68 years ago (1956)
Preceding agency
  • Office of the Auditor General (1956-1992)
JurisdictionGovernment of California
Headquarters621 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814
Agency executive
  • Grant Parks, State Auditor
Parent departmentLittle Hoover Commission[1]
Websiteauditor.ca.gov

The California State Auditor's Office (CSA), formerly known as the Office of the Auditor General and later the Bureau of State Audits (BSA), is the supreme audit institution of the Government of California.[2][3][4] It is headed by the State Auditor who is appointed by the Governor to a 4-year term from a list of 3 qualified individuals submitted by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee of the California State Legislature.[5]

California law requires the bureau to examine and report annually upon the financial statements prepared by the executive branch of the state; perform other related assignments, including performance audits, that are mandated by statute; administer the Reporting of Improper Governmental Activities Act; and conduct audits and investigations of public entities requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to the extent that funding is available.[6]

The auditors investigate whistleblower complaints against state agencies and provides the report to the governor and legislature. The agencies have 60 days to report on any disciplinary and corrective actions they take.[7]

The CSA also helps implement the Citizens Redistricting Commission per California Proposition 11 (2008) and California Proposition 20 (2010).[8]

Although the bureau is located within the executive branch, state law grants the CSA independence from executive branch oversight. The bureau is overseen by the Little Hoover Commission, an independent state oversight agency.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ^ Cal. Government Code § 8543
  2. ^ Chapter 12, Statutes of 1993, codified at Government Code § 8543, etc.
  3. ^ "California State Auditor - Statutorial Establishment". www.bsa.ca.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "Legislature OKs Revival of Auditor General's Office : Government: A 64-7 vote by the Assembly sends bill restoring watchdog agency to Wilson. Voters had refused to exempt the agency from spending limits". Los Angeles Times. May 4, 1993. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "California State Auditor".
  6. ^ "Chapter 12, Statutes of 1993" (PDF). California State Assembly, Office of the Chief Clerk. 1993.
  7. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (October 29, 2020). "California auditors criticize $800,000 in state spending on contracts, millions for retirement bonuses". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "California State Auditor - 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission Selection Process". auditor.ca.gov. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "California State Auditor - Statutorial Establishment". www.bsa.ca.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "The Commission | Little Hoover Commission". lhc.ca.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "Oversight of the California State Auditor | Little Hoover Commission". lhc.ca.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2019.


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