Fairs: California Exposition and State Fair: State Fair Leasing Authority.

(1) Existing law establishes the California Exposition and State Fair as a separate, independent entity in state government. Existing law provides that the governing body of the California Exposition and State Fair shall be an 11-member board of directors. Existing law requires the board of directors to appoint a general manager of the California Exposition and State Fair and to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the financial condition, present operations, and future planned activities of that entity. This bill would provide that the California Exposition and State Fair general manager shall be the chief executive officer of that entity. The bill would require the board to develop, maintain, and comply with written policies and procedures for contracting, and would require the board to incorporate specified policies and procedures to apply to contracts or procurement by the California Exposition and State Fair. The bill would delete the requirement that the board submit the annual report described above, and would instead require, on or before May 31 of each year, the general manager to report to the State Fair Leasing Authority on all of the events and operations of the California Exposition and State Fair during that prior year and its financial condition. The bill would require the books and accounts to be audited, as specified. (2) Existing law sets forth the duties of the Board of Directors of the California Exposition and State Fair. Among other duties, the board is authorized to appoint all necessary marshals and police to keep order and preserve peace at the California Exposition and State Fair. The board is also authorized, with the approval of the Department of General Services, to carry out certain functions, including, but not limited to, purchasing, acquiring, or holding real or personal property and beautifying or improving that property, and to make permanent improvements upon publicly owned real property near the California Exposition and State Fair when the improvements materially benefit that entity's property. This bill would require the board to delegate to the officers and employees of the California Exposition and State Fair the independent power to appoint all necessary peace officers for that entity. The bill would also revise the powers of the board, as described above, by requiring the board to obtain the approval of the State Fair Leasing Authority, rather than the Department of General Services, to exercise those powers, and would additionally authorize the board to dispose of or exchange property. (3) Existing law authorizes the authority to enter into leases or other agreements for the use of the State Fair Race Track or any other property owned or controlled by the California Exposition and State Fair, as provided. Existing law requires the board to establish and maintain a bank checking account or a savings and loan account, continuously appropriated to the board to carry out its duties, for the depositing of funds received by the California Exposition and State Fair. Existing law requires that the proceeds of the sale of any interest in real property which is owned by any association be paid into the Fair and Exposition Fund, and be available for expenditure by the association with the approval of the Department of Food and Agriculture and the State Public Works Board, as specified. The bill would require the board to establish separate accounts for the depositing of funds received by the State Fair Leasing Authority in the conduct of its business, and all funds maintained in the authority accounts would be continuously appropriated to the board or the authority to carry out their respective duties. The bill would require that the proceeds of any lease, sale, or other agreement become the property of the California Exposition and State Fair and be available to the fair in perpetuity, as provided. By increasing moneys in a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. (4) The bill would also include a statement of legislative findings and declarations.