Assemblymember Berner’s AB 353 would create an inspector-general office at CPUC; committee concurs in Senate amendments

Assemblymember Berner told the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy that AB 353 would recast the California Public Utilities Commission’s internal audit office and create an inspector-general position to oversee audits and improve transparency. "AB 353 is about good governance, accountability, and transparency at the CPUC," Berner said, and asked colleagues for an aye vote.

Berner said the existing internal audit office — established in 2017 — issues reports that "are not regularly made public," and described the inspector-general model as similar to oversight offices in other state agencies. The chair moved the committee to concur in the Senate amendments; the motion was seconded and the committee recorded votes that resulted in the measure being advanced (final roll call left open for absent members and later recorded).