The California State Auditor shall not destroy any papers or memoranda used to support a completed audit sooner than three years after the audit report is released to the public. All books, papers, records, and correspondence of the office pertaining to its work are public records subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 and shall be filed at any of the regularly maintained offices of the California State Auditor, except that none of the following items or papers of which these items are a part shall be released to the public by the California State Auditor, his or her employees, or members of the commission:

(a) Personal papers and correspondence of any person providing assistance to the California State Auditor when that person has requested in writing that his or her papers and correspondence be kept private and confidential. Those papers and correspondence shall become public records if the written request is withdrawn or upon the order of the California State Auditor.

(b) Papers, correspondence, memoranda, or any substantive information pertaining to any audit not completed.

(c) Papers, correspondence, or memoranda pertaining to any audit that has been completed, which papers, correspondence, or memoranda are not used in support of any report resulting from the audit.

(d) Any survey of public employees that the California State Auditor determines should be kept confidential because the employees have expressed fear of retaliation by their employer if they respond to the survey.

(e) In accordance with Section 8545.1 and subdivision (b) of Section 8545.2, any paper, correspondence, record, document, or information the disclosure of which is restricted from release to the public by a statutory or constitutional provision, a rule that is consistent with such a provision, or a rule adopted pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 18 of Article VI of the California Constitution.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 457, Sec. 1. (SB 879) Effective September 17, 2018.)