Bill > SB747

This bill establishes an independent Audit Office within the Board of Education designed to ensure accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the Department of Education's operations. The Audit Office will have broad powers to conduct financial and performance audits, including examining accounts, financial records, and department facilities, with the authority to administer oaths, take testimony, and compel document production. The office will be led by an auditor who can hire staff with expertise in auditing and accounting, and these staff members will be exempt from standard civil service requirements. The Audit Office must conform to government auditing standards, operate independently, and submit annual reports to the Board, Superintendent, and Legislature no later than twenty days before each regular legislative session, with copies also sent to the Governor and Director of Finance. The bill includes an appropriation to fund the establishment of the Audit Office and its positions, with the funds to be expended by the Department of Education. Notably, the bill aims to create a mechanism for rigorous oversight of educational expenditures and operations, providing a structured approach to identifying potential inefficiencies or financial irregularities within the state's educational system.

Budget and Finance, Education, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=747&year=2026