Report 2015-047 Recommendation 24 Responses

Report 2015-047: The State Bar of California: Its Lack of Transparency Has Undermined Its Communications With Decision Makers and Stakeholders (Release Date: May 2016)

Recommendation #24 To: Bar of California, State

To ensure that the compensation it provides its executives is reasonable, the State Bar should revise its policy for housing allowances and relocation expenses to align with the requirements in the state law that are applicable to managerial employees.

1-Year Agency Response

The Board adopted a revised policy per this recommendation at its January 2017 meeting.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

The State Bar provided a copy of its new policy, which states that "The guidelines used for the interim housing allowance will be the same as those applied by the State of California under the California Code of Regulations." Although the State Bar's policy does not give the same level of detail found within CalHR's policy, if the State Bar's policies are implemented as intended, it would fully address the recommendation.

6-Month Agency Response

The State Bar explained that it intends to implement the entirety of the recommendation, but has not revised the Executive Rules to date.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Per the State Bar's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

60-Day Agency Response

Staff has completed research with regard to housing allowances and reimbursement of relocation expenses for state employees. With respect to relocation expenses, staff is working with the Office of the General Counsel to incorporate in to Executive Rules. With respect to housing allowances, no applicable state provisions have been identified pursuant to staff research.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2015-047

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.