The department shall have access and authority to examine all records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and all financial affairs of every agency of the state permitted or charged by law with the handling of public money or its equivalent. It may enter any public office or institution in this state and access, examine, and reproduce any records, files, books, papers, accounts, reports, correspondence, or documents contained therein or belonging thereto for the purpose of making such examination, and shall have access, in the presence of the custodian or his deputy, to the cash drawers and cash in the custody of such agency.

During business hours the department may examine the public accounts in any depository which has public funds in its custody.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 37, Sec. 19. (AB 1817) Effective June 27, 2018.)