(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, but to the extent consistent with applicable federal law or regulation, any state department and the Controller pursuant to Section 15202, after receiving a request by a board of supervisors of an affected county which has a population of 150,000 or less as of January 1, 1983, and upon determining that advance payment is essential to the effective implementation of a particular program, and further to the extent that funds are available, and not more frequently than once each month, may advance to the county an amount not to exceed one-twelfth of the annual allocations, subventions, or reimbursements required for the delivery of services by a county.

(b) The director of each department and the Controller shall promulgate regulations or guidelines and a plan to establish control procedures to define the scope of operational information required from a county in order to guarantee advance payments pursuant to this section. No county may receive an advance payment unless the county has complied with the provisions of the department’s plan and regulations. Each department plan shall be approved by the Department of Finance prior to its implementation.

(c) Claim schedules for advance payments shall be presented to the appropriate department in the manner prescribed by the department. Payment of claims shall be made within 60 days after a claim is received by the department.

(d) Each department and the Controller shall review periodically and adjust advances to actual expenditures for the claim period. Additionally, each department and the Controller shall take into consideration the timing of the implementation of new programs in the computation of advances. The authority contained in this chapter shall not supersede or limit any other provision of law authorizing the state to conduct required audits of claims transactions.

(e) A county, upon determining that an advance payment is essential for the effective implementation of a particular program, to the extent funds are available, and not more frequently than once each month, may advance to other affected local public agencies located within its jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, school districts, special districts, or cities, an amount not to exceed one-twelfth of the annual allocations, reimbursements, or subventions required for the delivery of services pursuant to related state and federal laws.

(f) This section does not apply to the State Department of Social Services.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 118. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.)