California Assembly Bill AB2521 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2521INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Torrico FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to amend Section 77206 of the Government Code, relating to courts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2521, as introduced, Torrico. Courts: budget and fiscal management. Existing law authorizes the Judicial Council to regulate the budget and fiscal management of the trial courts, and requires the Judicial Council to adopt regulations for recordkeeping and accounting by the courts ensuring that all revenues and expenditures relating to court operations are known. At the request of the Legislature, the Controller may perform and publish financial and fiscal compliance audits of the reports of court revenues and expenditures. The Controller is required to report the results of these audits to the Legislature and the Judicial Council, and the Judicial Council or its representative may perform audits and reviews of all court financial records wherever they may be located. This bill would eliminate the authority of the Judicial Council pursuant to those provisions to perform audits and reviews of court financial records. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 77206 of the Government Code is amended to read: 77206. (a) Notwithstanding any other  provision of  law, the Judicial Council may regulate the budget and fiscal management of the trial courts. The Judicial Council, in consultation with the Controller, shall maintain appropriate regulations for recordkeeping and accounting by the courts. The Judicial Council shall seek to ensure, by these provisions,  that (1) the   both of the following:   (1)     The  fiscal affairs of the trial courts are managed efficiently, effectively, and responsibly  , and (2) all   .   (2)     All  moneys collected by the courts, including filing fees, fines, forfeitures, and penalties, and all revenues and expenditures relating to court operations are known.  The   The  Judicial Council may delegate their authority under this section, when appropriate, to the Administrative Director of the Courts. (b) Regulations, rules, and reporting requirements adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be exempt from review and approval or other processing by the Office of Administrative Law as provided for in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2. (c) The Controller, at the request of the Legislature, may perform and publish financial and fiscal compliance audits of the reports of court revenues and expenditures. The Controller shall report the results of these audits to the Legislature and the Judicial Council.  The Judicial Council or its representative may perform audits and reviews of all court financial records wherever they may be located.  (d) The Judicial Council shall provide for the transmission of summary information concerning court revenues and expenditures to the Controller. (e) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to provide for reasonable public access to budget allocation and expenditure information at the state and local level. (f) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules ensuring that, upon written request, the trial courts provide, in a timely manner, information relating to the administration of the courts, including financial information and other information that affects the wages, hours, and working conditions of trial court employees.