Bill Text: CA AB1235 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Local agencies: financial management training.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2014-03-06 - Last day to consider Governor's veto pursuant to Joint Rule 58.5. [AB1235 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB1235-Enrolled.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1235 ENROLLED BILL TEXT PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 1, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 24, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gordon FEBRUARY 22, 2013 An act to add Article 2.45 (commencing with Section 53236) to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, relating to local government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1235, Gordon. Local agencies: financial management training. Existing law provides for the establishment and operations of cities, counties, cities and counties, districts, and other local government agencies, the composition of their governing bodies, and the payment of governing body members for attending meetings and performing other duties, and prescribes conflicts of interest. Existing law requires that all local agency officials, as specified, receive ethics training. This bill would require a local agency official, in local agency service as of January 1, 2014, or thereafter, except for an official whose term of office ends before January 1, 2015, to receive training in financial management if the local agency provides any type of compensation, salary, or stipend to, or reimburses the expenses of, a member of a legislative body. The bill would require the Treasurer's office and the Controller's office, in consultation with other state agencies, associations, and outside experts, to work together to develop standardized criteria that sufficiently meet specified requirements. The bill would require curricula developed by any entity to meet criteria put forth by the Treasurer's office and the Controller's office. The bill would declare that the edification of local government officials in financial management is a matter of statewide concern, thus making it applicable to charter cities, charter counties, and charter cities and counties. Because the bill would impose new duties on local governments, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Article 2.45 (commencing with Section 53236) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, to read: Article 2.45. Financial Management Training 53236. For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) "Legislative body" has the same meaning as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 54952. (b) "Local agency" means a city, county, city and county, charter city, charter county, charter city and county, or special district. (c) "Local agency official" means either of the following: (1) Any member of a local agency legislative body or any elected local agency official who receives any type of compensation, salary, or stipend or reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties. (2) Any employee designated by a local agency legislative body to receive the training specified under this article. (d) "Financial management training" includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Laws and commonly accepted best practices relating to local budgeting, including, but not limited to, revenue sources, debt instruments, budget monitoring, and financial policies. (2) Laws relating to financial reporting requirements for local agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, including auditing requirements. (3) Laws and commonly accepted best practices relating to long-term financial planning, cash management, and investments, for local agencies. (4) Laws and commonly accepted best practices relating to capital financing and debt management. (5) Laws relating to purchasing and contracting practices. 53237. (a) If a local agency provides any type of compensation, salary, or stipend to a member of a legislative body, or provides reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred by a member of a legislative body in the performance of official duties, then all local agency officials shall receive training in financial management pursuant to this article. (b) Each official subject to the requirements of subdivision (a) shall receive training in general financial management principles and financial management laws relevant to his or her public service once per term of office. (c) The Treasurer's office and the Controller's office, in consultation with other state agencies, associations, and outside experts, shall work together to develop standardized criteria that sufficiently meet the requirements of this section. Curricula developed by any entity shall meet criteria put forth by the Treasurer's office and the Controller's office. (d) A local agency or an association of local agencies may offer one or more training courses, or sets of self-study materials with tests, to meet the requirements of this section. These courses may be taken at home, in-person, or online. (e) All providers of training courses to meet the requirements of this article shall provide participants with proof of participation to meet the requirements of Section 53237.2. (f) A local agency shall provide information on training available to meet the requirements of this article to its local officials at least once annually. 53237.1. (a) Each local agency official in local agency service as of January 1, 2014, except for officials whose term of office ends before January 1, 2015, shall receive the training required by subdivision (a) of Section 53237 before January 1, 2015. Thereafter, each local agency official shall receive the training required by subdivision (a) of Section 53237 at least once per term of office. (b) Each local agency official who commences service with a local agency on or after January 1, 2014, shall receive the training required by subdivision (a) of Section 53237 no later than one year from the first day of service with the local agency. Thereafter, each local agency official shall receive the training required by subdivision (a) of Section 53237 at least once per term of office. (c) A local agency official who serves more than one local agency shall satisfy the requirements of this article once per term of office of one of the agencies without regard to the number of local agencies with which he or she serves. 53237.2. (a) A local agency that requires its local agency officials to complete the financial management training prescribed by this article shall maintain records indicating both of the following: (1) The dates that local officials satisfied the requirements of this article. (2) The entity that provided the training. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, a local agency shall maintain these records for at least five years after local officials receive the training. These records are public records subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1). SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that the edification of local government officials in financial management is a matter of statewide concern and not merely a municipal affair, as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, this act shall apply to charter cities, charter counties, and charter cities and counties. SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.