(a) The agreement shall provide for strict accountability of all funds and report of all receipts and disbursements.

(b) In addition, and provided a separate agency or entity is created, the public officer performing the functions of auditor or controller as determined pursuant to Section 6505.5, shall either make or contract with a certified public accountant or public accountant to make an annual audit of the accounts and records of every agency or entity, except that the officer need not make or contract for the audit in any case where an annual audit of the accounts and records of the agency or entity by a certified public accountant or public accountant is otherwise made by any agency of the state or the United States only as to those accounts and records which are directly subject to such a federal or state audit. In each case the minimum requirements of the audit shall be those prescribed by the Controller for special districts under Section 26909 and shall conform to generally accepted auditing standards.

(c) When an audit of an account and records is made by a certified public accountant or public accountant, a report thereof shall be filed as public records with each of the contracting parties to the agreement and also with the county auditor of the county where the home office of the joint powers authority is located and shall be sent to any public agency or person in California that submits a written request to the joint powers authority. The report shall be filed within 12 months of the end of the fiscal year or years under examination.

(d) When a nonprofit corporation is designated by the agreement to administer or execute the agreement and no public officer is required to perform the functions of auditor or controller as determined pursuant to Section 6505.5, an audit of the accounts and records of the agreement shall be made at least once each year by a certified public accountant or public accountant, and a report thereof shall be filed as a public record with each of the contracting parties to the agreement and with the county auditor of the county where the home office of the joint powers authority is located, and shall be sent to any public agency or person in California that submits a written request to the joint powers authority. These reports shall be filed within 12 months after the end of the fiscal year or years under examination.

(e) Any costs of the audit, including contracts with, or employment of certified public accountants or public accountants, in making an audit pursuant to this section shall be borne by the agency or entity and shall be a charge against any unencumbered funds of the agency or entity available for the purpose.

(f) All agencies or entities may, by unanimous request of the governing body thereof, replace the annual special audit with an audit covering a two-year period.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section to the contrary, agencies or entities shall be exempt from the requirement of an annual audit if the financial statements are audited by the Controller to satisfy federal audit requirements.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 876, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1999.)