Section 12419.

The Controller shall state an account with any person who:

(a) Has received money or has money or other personal property which belongs to the State by escheat or otherwise, or has been intrusted with the collection, management, or disbursement of any money, bonds, or interest accruing therefrom, belonging to or held in trust by the State, and fails to render an account thereof to and make settlement with the Controller within the time prescribed by law, or when no particular time is specified, fails to render such account and make settlement.

(b) Fails to pay into the State treasury any money belonging to the State upon being required so to do by the Controller, within 20 days after such requisition.

In stating such an account, the Controller shall charge 25 per cent damages, and interest at the rate of 10 per cent annually from the time of the failure.

In any action based thereon a copy of such an account is prima facie evidence of the things therein stated. If the Controller can not for want of information state an account, he may in any action brought by him aver that fact, and allege generally the amount of money or other property which is due or belongs to the State.

(Added by Stats. 1945, Ch. 111.)