Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19201. Section 19201.
This part may be cited as the California Judicial Branch Contract Law.
PART 2.5. CONTRACTING BY JUDICIAL BRANCH ENTITIES [19201. - 19210.]
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC 2.5.
in effectCal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19202. Section 19202.
The Legislature finds and declares that placing all public contract provisions for judicial branch entities in one part will make that law clearer and easier to find. Further, it is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this part to achieve the objectives as set forth in Sections 100, 101, and 102.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19203. Section 19203.
This part shall apply to all contracts initially entered into or amended by judicial branch entities on or after October 1, 2011.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19204. Section 19204.
(a)
All judicial branch entities shall comply with the provisions of this code that are applicable to state agencies and departments related to the procurement of goods and services, including information technology goods and services. All contracts with total cost estimated at more than one million dollars ($1,000,000), except contracts covered by Section 68511.9 of the Government Code, shall be subject to the review and recommendations of the Bureau of State Audits to ensure compliance with this part. All judicial branch entities shall notify the State Auditor, in writing, of the existence of any such contracts within 10 business days of entering the contract. In addition, all administrative and infrastructure information technology projects of the Judicial Council or the courts with
total costs estimated at more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be subject to the reviews and recommendations of the California Technology Agency, as specified in Section 68511.9 of the Government Code.
(b)
Except as provided in subdivision (c), procurement and contracting for the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, renovation, replacement, lease, or acquisition of court facilities shall be conducted by judicial branch entities consistent with the relevant provisions of this code applicable to state agencies.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this part does not apply to procurement and contracting by judicial branch entities that are related to trial court construction, including, but not limited to, the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, renovation, replacement, lease, or acquisition of trial court facilities. However, this part
shall apply to contracts for maintenance of all judicial branch facilities that are not under the operation and management of the Department of General Services.
(d)
Only until the Judicial Council adopts the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual required pursuant to Section 19206, judicial branch entities shall instead be governed by applicable policies and procedures in the State Administrative Manual and the State Contracting Manual, or policies and procedures as otherwise required by law to be adopted by the Department of General Services applicable to state agencies.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19205. Section 19205.
(a)
As used in this part, “judicial branch entity” means any superior court, court of appeal, the California Supreme Court, the Judicial Council, the Habeas Corpus Resource Center, or the Administrative Office of the Courts.
(b)
Where there is a reference in this code to an officer or employee of a state agency, for purposes of this part, these terms shall refer to a member, judicial officer, officer,
employee, or other person of a judicial branch entity, as applicable.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19206. Section 19206.
The Judicial Council shall adopt and publish no later than January 1, 2012, a Judicial Branch Contracting Manual incorporating procurement and contracting policies and procedures that must be followed by all judicial branch entities subject to this part. The policies and procedures shall include a requirement that each judicial branch entity shall adopt a local contracting manual for procurement and contracting for goods or services by that judicial branch entity. The policies and
procedures in the manuals shall be consistent with this code and substantially similar to the provisions contained in the State Administrative Manual and the State Contracting Manual.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19207. Section 19207.
Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 19204 or as otherwise specifically required by law applicable to any judicial branch entity, nothing in this part is intended, nor shall it be construed, to require the approval, review, or involvement of any other state entity, including, but not limited to, the Department of General Services or the Secretary of California Technology, in the procurement of any judicial branch goods or services, including information technology goods or
services.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19208. Section 19208.
Nothing in this part is intended, nor shall it be construed to permit, the application of provisions of this code that do not apply to state agencies and departments.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19209. Section 19209.
(a)
Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the Judicial Council shall annually provide a report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the State Auditor that provides information related to contracts and payments for the trial courts pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c). The report shall be provided no later than September 30 of each year, covering the state fiscal year ending June 30 of that year. Additionally, judicial branch entities using the Financial Information System for California (FISCal) shall participate with the state’s transparency effort by making their contract and payment information available for the state’s transparency websites on a rolling basis. For these entities, the judicial branch shall ensure their
contract and payment information is entered in FISCal for the state transparency websites and for state department audit purposes.
(b)
For the trial courts, payment data shall include a list of all vendors or contractors receiving payments during the reporting period. For each vendor or contractor receiving any payment during the reporting period, the report shall identify the amount of payment to the contractor or vendor, the type of service or good provided, and the judicial branch entity or entities with which the vendor or contractor was contracted to provide that service or good.
(c)
For the trial courts, the report shall include all contracts and contract amendments made during the report period. The report shall identify the vendor or contractor, the type of
service or good provided under the contract, and, if applicable, the nature of the amendment, the duration of the amendment, and the cost of the amendment.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 19210. Section 19210.
(a)
The California State Auditor shall do all of the following:
(1)
On or before March 15, 2014, biennially thereafter, and every three years beginning in calendar year 2025, identify five judicial branch entities, excluding the Administrative Office of the Courts, for audit to assess the implementation of this part by the judicial branch entity based upon risk factors that include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(A)
Significant changes in legal or other requirements that have occurred that impact compliance with this part.
(B)
The amount of
time since the last audit performed of the identified judicial branch entity to assess its implementation and compliance with this part.
(C)
Previous audit results or known deficiencies.
(D)
Significant or unusual changes in management or high employee turnover.
(E)
The complexity and size of the judicial branch entity.
(F)
The level of sophistication and complexity of existing contracting practices and procedures.
(G)
The total volume and type of procurement made by the judicial branch entity compared with overall judicial branch procurement.
(H)
Substantial changes in total procurements, including, but not limited to, number and allotted amount, from one year to the next.
(2)
On or before March 15 of the year in which the judicial branch entities are identified pursuant to paragraph (1), notify the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee of the five judicial branch entities identified and the estimated cost to conduct an audit of each judicial branch entity.
(3)
On or before July 1 of the year in which the judicial branch entities are identified, commence an audit of each identified judicial branch entity, subject to an appropriation for this audit whereby moneys are allocated in the annual Budget Act to one or more funds that are available for use by judicial branch
entities. Upon completion of the final audit report, as identified in paragraph (4), the Administrative Office of the Courts shall reimburse the California State Auditor for the actual costs of the work performed.
(4)
Provide the judicial branch entity with a reasonable opportunity to respond to the findings of the audit. An audit report shall not be considered final until this opportunity is provided and any response is included or incorporated into the audit report.
(5)
On or before January 15 of the fiscal year for which the appropriation for the audit was made, report the judicial branch entity audit findings, including any response by the judicial branch entity, to the judicial branch entity, the Legislature, the Judicial
Council, and the Department of Finance.
(6)
Annually provide updates to the Legislature on the status of the judicial branch entity implementation of an audit recommendation.
(b)
If, on or before March 15 of the year in which the judicial branch entities are identified pursuant to subdivision (a), the California State Auditor identifies, on the basis of the risk factors described in subdivision (a), judicial branch entities for audit in addition to the five identified pursuant to subdivision (a) and notifies the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee of these additional entities, along with the estimated cost of each audit, and an appropriation is made for this purpose in the same manner as described in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a), the California State Auditor shall then audit the additional judicial branch entities and provide a final audit report as described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (a).
(c)
On or before July 1, 2015, biennially thereafter, and every three years beginning in calendar year 2025, the California State Auditor shall commence an audit of the Administrative Office of the Courts, to assess the implementation of, and compliance with, this part, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature to the Judicial Council for transfer to the State Audit Fund for this purpose, and provide a final audit report in the manner described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (a).
(d)
The California State Auditor may follow up on a prior audit finding at any time.
(e)
The California State Auditor shall conduct an audit pursuant to this section in accordance with Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 8543) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Pursuant to Section 8546.2 of the Government Code, the California State Auditor shall request updates from an audited judicial branch entity regarding its progress in implementing audit recommendations made pursuant to this section. The audited judicial branch entity shall provide these updates at intervals prescribed by the California State Auditor so that the California State Auditor may conduct appropriate followup activities.
(f)
Moneys that have been transferred to the State Audit Fund pursuant to this section to audit a specific judicial branch entity, but have not been expended by the
California State Auditor at the time the California State Auditor provides its final audit report for that judicial branch entity, shall revert back to the fund from which the moneys were transferred.
(g)
A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(h)
If the California State Auditor is selected as the auditing entity pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 77206 of the Government Code, then the California State Auditor may combine the results of an audit of a trial court conducted pursuant to that section with an audit of the same trial court conducted pursuant to this section. The California State Auditor may also combine the results of an audit of the Administrative Office of the Courts pursuant to
Section 77206 of the Government Code with the results of an audit of the Administrative Office of the Courts pursuant to this section.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026