It is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine, to do any of the following:

(a) Fail or refuse to permit the examination of, access to, or reproduction of the records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, cash drawers, or cash of their office by the Inspector General or in any way interfere with such examination conducted pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Interfere, intend to deceive or defraud, or obstruct the Inspector General in the performance of an audit, evaluation, investigation, or review pursuant to this chapter.

(c) Manipulate, correct, alter, or change records, documents, accounts, reports, or correspondence before or during any audit, evaluation, investigation, or review conducted pursuant to this chapter.

(d) Distribute, reproduce, release, or fail to safeguard confidential draft documents exchanged between the Inspector General and the entity subject to the audit, evaluation, investigation, or review conducted pursuant to this chapter before the release of the final report and without the Inspector General’s express permission.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 144. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021.)