Section 8544.5.

(a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the State Audit Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340, the State Audit Fund is continuously appropriated for the expenses of the California State Auditor. There shall be appropriated annually in the Budget Act to the State Audit Fund, from the General Fund and the Central Service Cost Recovery Fund, the amount necessary to reimburse the State Audit Fund for the cost of audits and any other duties to be performed that are not directly reimbursed under subdivision (c), including for the cost of any other duties imposed on the office by statute. "Cost of audits or any other duties" means all direct and indirect costs of conducting the audits or other duties, and any other expenses incurred by the California State Auditor in fulfilling his or her statutory responsibilities.

(b) With regard to the funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a), upon certification by the California State Auditor of estimated costs on a monthly basis, the Controller shall transfer the amount thus certified from the General Fund or the Central Service Cost Recovery Fund, as applicable, to the State Audit Fund. The Controller shall thereafter issue warrants drawn against the State Audit Fund upon receipt of claims certified by the California State Auditor.

(c) To ensure appropriate reimbursement from federal and special funds for the costs of the duties performed pursuant to Section 8546.3, the California State Auditor may directly bill state agencies for the costs incurred, subject to the approval of the Director of Finance.

(d) To ensure adequate oversight of the operations of the office, the Milton Marks "Little Hoover" Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy shall annually obtain the services of an independent public accountant to audit the State Audit Fund and the operation of the office to ensure compliance with state law, including Section 8546. The results of this audit shall be submitted to the commission and shall be a public record.

(e) To ensure that audits of the Milton Marks "Little Hoover" Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy are conducted in conformity with government auditing standards, any audit of the commission that is required or permitted by law shall be conducted by the independent public accountant selected pursuant to subdivision (d).

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 281, Sec. 17. Effective January 1, 2013.)