Department of Finance: reports: crimes.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Finance to require financial and statistical reports, duly verified and covering the period of each fiscal year, from all agencies of the state. Existing law provides that every person who fails or neglects to make, verify, and file with the department any required report, or fails or neglects to follow the directions of the department in keeping the accounts of his or her office, is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would require the department to require each department head or designee whose duty it is to audit the accounts of a state agency or other state entity to provide a certification under penalty of perjury to the department that the budgeting and accounting information provided reconciles to the year-end finance reports submitted to the Controller's office. By creating a new crime, this bill 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.