BILL NUMBER: AB 681INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ting FEBRUARY 25, 2015 An act to amend Section 15645 of the Government Code, relating to the State Board of Equalization. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 681, as introduced, Ting. State Board of Equalization: surveys: assessment procedures and practices: county assessor. Existing law requires the State Board of Equalization to make surveys in each county and city and county to determine the adequacy of the procedures and practices employed by the county assessor in the valuation of property. Existing law requires the board, upon completion of the survey of the procedures and practices of a county assessor, to prepare a written survey report setting forth its findings and recommendations, and requires the board, before preparing its written survey report, to meet with the assessor to discuss and confer on those matters which may be included in the written survey report. Existing law requires the survey report, together with the assessor's response and the board's comments, to constitute the final survey report. This bill would require the board, before preparing its written survey report, to notify the former assessor if the survey reviews the former assessor's procedures and practices, and to also meet with the former assessor, upon his or her request if the survey reviews, to discuss and confer on those matters that may be included in the survey report. This bill would require an addendum to the final survey report to be published to include the former assessor's written response and the board's comments, if any. 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 15645 of the Government Code is amended to read: 15645. (a) Upon completion of a survey of the procedures and practices of a county assessor, the board shall prepare a written survey report setting forth its findings and recommendations and transmit a copy to the assessor. In addition the board may file with the assessor a confidential report containing matters relating to personnel. Before preparing its written survey report, the board shallmeet withdo both of the following: (1) Meet with the assessor to discuss and confer on those matters which may be included in the written survey report. (2) Notify the former assessor if the survey reviews the former assessor's procedures and practices, and meet with the former assessor, upon his or her request, to discuss and confer on those matters that may be included in the survey report. (b) Within 30 days after receiving a copy of the survey report, the assessor may file with the board a written response to the findings and recommendations in the survey report. The board may, for good cause, extend the period for filing the response. (c) The survey report, together with the assessor's response, if any, and the board's comments, if any, shall constitute the final survey report. An addendum to the final survey report shall b e published to include a former assessor's written response to the findings and recommendations in the survey report that reviewed the former assessor's procedures and practices, if any, and the board's comments, if any. The final survey report shall be issued by the board within two years after the date the board began the survey. Within a year after receiving a copy of the final survey report, and annually thereafter, no later than the date on which the initial report was issued by the board and until all issues are resolved, the assessor shall file with the board of supervisors a report, indicating the manner in which the assessor has implemented, intends to implement or the reasons for not implementing, the recommendations of the survey report, with copies of that response being sent to the Governor, the Attorney General, the State Board of Equalization, the Senate and Assembly and to the grand juries and assessment appeals boards of the counties to which they relate.