$ cat /srv/salt/base/_modules/hello.py
import salt
def world():
    return "hello world"

$ salt local saltutil.sync_all
local:
    ----------
    grains:
    modules:
        - modules.hello
    outputters:
    renderers:
    returners:
    states:

$ salt local hello.world
local:
    'hello.world' is not available.