Article 1. Administration of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.

There is in the State Government a Department of Finance.

The department is under the control of an executive officer known as Director of Finance. As used in this part, "director" and "department" refer to the Director and Department of Finance, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires.

The director is appointed by and holds office at the pleasure of the Governor. The annual salary of the director is provided for by Chapter 6 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

The director shall perform all duties, exercise all powers and jurisdiction, assume and discharge all responsibilities, and carry out and effect all purposes vested by law in the department, except as otherwise expressly provided by this code.

For the purpose of administration, the director shall organize the department with the approval of the Governor, in the manner that he deems necessary properly to segregate and conduct the work of the department. The director may arrange and classify the work of the department and with the approval of the Governor may create such divisions and subdivisions as may be necessary, and change or abolish them from time to time.

For the purpose of administering Article 1 (commencing with Section 13290) of Chapter 3, the Director of Finance may appoint and prescribe the duties and fix the salaries of such number of skillful accountants or assistants as he or she deems necessary. Each appointee is a civil executive officer. Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his or her office, each appointee shall execute to the state an official bond conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties in the penal sum which the director prescribes, but not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Whenever any statute, heretofore or hereafter enacted, requires by the use of the word or words "approve," "approval," "authorize," or "authorization," the director or the department to approve or authorize any act or transaction, such approval or authorization shall hereafter be deemed to have been given only if given in writing by the director, his deputy, or by some other officer or employee of the Department of Finance acting pursuant to written authority of the director.