(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage sound fiscal management practices among community college districts for the most efficient and effective use of public funds for the education of community college students by strengthening fiscal accountability at the district and state levels.

(b) The governing board of each community college district shall provide for an annual audit of all funds, books, and accounts of the district in accordance with regulations of the board of governors. The audit shall be made by certified public accountants licensed by the California Board of Accountancy. In the event the governing board of a community college district fails to provide for an audit, the board of governors shall provide for an audit, and if the board of governors fails or is unable to make satisfactory arrangements for such an audit, the Department of Finance shall make arrangements for the audit. The cost of any audit described above shall be paid from district funds.

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(c) The board of governors shall adopt criteria and standards for periodic assessment of the fiscal condition of community college districts, and such regulations regarding the review and improvement of district fiscal conditions as necessary to encourage sound fiscal management practices. In so doing:

(1) The governing board of a community college district, as required by regulations of the board of governors, shall periodically report information to the board of governors regarding the fiscal condition of the district.

(2) The board of governors, by regulation, shall develop standards for district maintenance of sound fiscal conditions. The regulations shall authorize a board comprehensive management review of any community college district which, after assessing itself or being assessed in accordance with board criteria and standards, is shown to be experiencing fiscal difficulty. On the basis of the findings of the management review, the board of governors may recommend appropriate changes in a district’s management practices.

(3) The board of governors, by regulation, shall develop appropriate procedures and actions for districts that fail to achieve fiscal stability or that fail to comply with the board of governors’ recommendations. The procedures and remedies may include the appointment of a special trustee to manage the community college district. The regulations pursuant to which the board of governors may appoint a special trustee to manage the community college district shall include specific benchmarks to indicate the presence of local capacity to resume management of the community college district and clear standards that require meaningful consultation by a special trustee, or his or her designee, with the community college district prior to decisionmaking. The board of governors shall be authorized to reduce or withhold apportionment to districts to pay for the cost of the special trustee, management review, or other extraordinary costs resulting from the district’s fiscal difficulties and to ensure the stabilization of the district’s financial condition.

(4) The board of governors shall report to the chairs of the educational policy and fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature, the Director of Finance, and the Governor any corrective action taken by the district and any action taken against the district pursuant to paragraph (3).

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 466, Sec. 1. (AB 2087) Effective January 1, 2015.)