California sets AI auditor rules; Kern experts ask who checks the checkers
SB 813 and AB 1405 set up independent AI audits and a state registry for auditors, aimed at hiring and business tools. Local voices say audits have limits.
California sets AI auditor rules; Kern experts ask who checks the checkers
Key Takeaways
- SB 813 creates a framework for independent audits of AI used in hiring and business operations.
- AB 1405 establishes a state registry for AI auditors and standards to protect their independence.
- Auditors face a 12‑month cooling‑off period before working for companies they review.
- Reviews target bias, accuracy, security and safety, but they can’t guarantee future behavior.
- Central Valley employers using resume screeners will see new compliance expectations.
"A human should still put their eyes on that resume," said Scott Couture, a Kern County workforce program manager, reacting Wednesday, Oct. 14, to California’s new AI audit rules announced in Sacramento. He told 23ABC he’s seeing more local employers use screening software to sort applicants before anyone picks up the phone.
The laws matter here because those tools are already common in Bakersfield and across Fresno County. If a company uses AI to screen candidates or forecast orders, it’s now expected to bring in an independent auditor and to pick one from a new state registry.
What the new bills do
Two measures, SB 813 and AB 1405, aim to put independent eyes on workplace AI. One bill sets the ground rules for third‑party reviews. The other creates a public list of eligible auditors, along with standards meant to keep those firms independent from the vendors and clients they assess.
The package spells out basic conflicts to avoid. Auditors can’t review systems they helped build, and they can’t go work for a reviewed company for 12 months after finishing the job. If an auditor misses a serious issue, they can be held responsible. Audits look at four buckets, bias, accuracy, security and safety.
What local experts say
California State University, Bakersfield assistant professor Milad Pira said independence is about truth telling, not who pays the invoice. He urged repeat reviews every six to twelve months, since models and data shift over time and a clean report today may not hold next quarter.
Audits have limits. They show how a system performs during the check, not how it will behave in six months with different data or a new software update. Which is the point.
"The question now is who watches the watchdogs."
What it means for Valley employers
Expect more paperwork in HR and procurement. Employers using resume screeners or demand‑planning tools will need to confirm an auditor’s listing, keep records of findings and keep people in the loop for decisions that hit paychecks or job offers. Fresno‑area HR managers who bought off‑the‑shelf screeners will have to ask vendors for fresh audit reports and local testing protocols.
Pira warned against trusting a stamp from somewhere else. If a tool was tuned on data from different regions, it may skew results here. He said companies should run their own fairness checks on Kern County applicants before letting software filter interviews, even if the tool carries an outside review.
On the ground, nothing about this is exotic. A dented Diet Dr Pepper sat on the edge of the conference table.
"Independence is not about who writes the check. It’s about whether the auditor can tell the truth without consequences," Pira told 23ABC.
Central Valley AI is produced by the CVAI Newsdesk team and developed by Kaweah Tech, a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.