Bill Text: CA AB2528 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: The California State Auditor.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - Died at Desk. [AB2528 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2528-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 2528	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chu

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to amend Section 8547.5 of the Government Code, relating to
state government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2528, as introduced, Chu. The California State Auditor.
   Existing law, the California Whistleblower Protection Act requires
the California State Auditor to administer the act and to
investigate and report on improper governmental activities, as
defined. Existing law requires the California State Auditor to
establish a means for submission of allegations of improper
governmental activity. Existing law also prohibits the California
State Auditor from disclosing the identity of a person who provides
information that results in an investigation, or of any person
providing information in confidence to further an investigation,
without obtaining the person's express permission.
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 8547.5 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   8547.5.  (a) The State Auditor shall create the means for the
submission of allegations of improper governmental activity 
both  by transmission via mail or other carrier to a
specified mailing address and  by  electronic submission
through an Internet Web site portal. The State Auditor may request
that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and
contact information and provide the names and contact information for
any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the
State Auditor shall not require any person submitting an allegation
to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly
state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not
required in order to submit an allegation.
   (b) Upon receiving specific information that any employee or state
agency has engaged in an improper governmental activity, the State
Auditor may conduct an investigation of the matter. The identity of
the person providing the information that initiated the
investigation, or of any person providing information in confidence
to further an investigation, shall not be disclosed without the
express permission of the person providing the information except
that the State Auditor may make the disclosure to a law enforcement
agency that is conducting a criminal investigation.