Bill Text: CA SB581 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: School bonds: bond accountability.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-08-12 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 91, Statutes of 2013. [SB581 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB581-Enrolled.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 581	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 8, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 24, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 18, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 8, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 1, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wyland
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Weber)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to amend Sections 15280 and 15286 of the Education Code,
relating to school bonds.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 581, Wyland. School bonds: bond accountability.
   The California Constitution limits the maximum amount of any ad
valorem tax on real property to 1% of the full cash value of the
property except for ad valorem taxes or assessments that pay the
interest and redemption charges on bonded indebtedness incurred by a
school district, community college district, or county office of
education for the construction, rehabilitation, or replacement of
school facilities approved by 55% of the voters if the proposition
includes specified accountability requirements. These accountability
requirements include a requirement that the governing board of either
the school district or community college district or county office
of education conduct annual independent performance and financial
audits. Existing law requires, by March 31 of each year, the annual,
independent financial and performance audits for the preceding fiscal
year to be submitted to a citizens' oversight committee that is
required to be established if a proposition is approved by the
voters, as described above. Existing law requires, without expending
bond funds, the governing board of the district to provide the
citizens' oversight committee with any necessary technical assistance
and administrative assistance and sufficient resources to publicize
the conclusions of the citizens' oversight committee.
   This bill would require the annual, independent financial and
performance audits to be submitted to the citizens' oversight
committee at the same time they are submitted to the school district
or community college district. The bill would also require the
governing board of the district to provide the citizens' oversight
committee with responses to any and all findings, recommendations,
and concerns addressed in the annual, independent financial and
performance audits within 3 months of receiving the audits.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 15280 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   15280.  (a) (1) The governing board of the district shall, without
expending bond funds, provide the citizens' oversight committee with
any necessary technical assistance and shall provide administrative
assistance in furtherance of its purpose and sufficient resources to
publicize the conclusions of the citizens' oversight committee.
   (2) The governing board of the district shall provide the citizens'
oversight committee with responses to any and all findings,
recommendations, and concerns addressed in the annual, independent
financial and performance audits required by subparagraphs (C) and
(D) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII
A of the California Constitution within three months of receiving the
audits.
   (b) All citizens' oversight committee proceedings shall be open to
the public and notice to the public shall be provided in the same
manner as the proceedings of the governing board of the district. The
citizens' oversight committee shall issue regular reports on the
results of its activities. A report shall be issued at least once a
year. Minutes of the proceedings of the citizens' oversight committee
and all documents received and reports issued shall be a matter of
public record and be made available on an Internet Web site
maintained by the governing board of the district.
  SEC. 2.  Section 15286 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   15286.  Consistent with the provisions contained in subparagraphs
(C) and (D) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of
Article XIII A of the California Constitution, the required annual,
independent financial and performance audits for the preceding fiscal
year shall be submitted to the citizens' oversight committee
established pursuant to Section 15278 at the same time they are
submitted to the school district or community college district, no
later than March 31 of each year. These audits shall be conducted in
accordance with the Government Auditing Standards issued by the
Comptroller General of the United States for financial and
performance audits.