LATE PAYMENT PENALTIES - 8474
Chapter 4.5, sections 927-927.13 of the Government Code, also known as the California Prompt Payment Act (the Act), requires state departments to automatically calculate and pay late payment penalties if they fail to make payments by the date required in the Act for the following:
- Properly submitted, undisputed invoices
- Grant claims for victim services or prevention programs
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Refunds or other undisputed payments due to individuals
The payment due date required in the Act is 45 calendar days after receipt of a properly submitted, undisputed invoice, unless otherwise specified in the contract or grant. In the case of refunds, the payment due date is 45 calendar days after notification of the refund to the payee or other payments due to individuals. Payment is defined as the issuance of a warrant or a registered warrant by the State Controller’s Office (Controller) or the issuance of a revolving fund check by a department. Late payment penalties shall not be paid when payees elect to return registered warrants to the state.
State departments shall pay penalties if a correct claim is not submitted to the Controller within 30 calendar days and payment is not issued within 45 calendar days. The Controller shall pay penalties if payment is not issued with 15 calendar days of receipt of a correct claim and payment is not issued within 45 calendar days. Chapter 29, Statutes of 2019 (SB 84) amended the Prompt Payment Act to include the Department of FISCal as another entity responsible for applicable penalties if the Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal) system causes delays in the delivery of a correct claim from the state department to the Controller, preventing the Controller from making payment within 15 calendar days and payment is not issued within 45 calendar days from state departments receipt of an undisputed invoice. On an exception basis, departments may avoid late payment penalties by making payments through the Office Revolving Fund or utilizing the Controller’s claim schedule expedites service.
The Department of General Services will not approve contracts with invoice payment terms exceeding 45 days.