Bill > SB204

This bill, titled the "State Inspectors General Act," establishes independent offices of inspector general within eight specific state departments—children, youth and families; corrections; health; higher education; human services; public education; finance and administration; and transportation—to conduct internal audits, compliance audits, and investigations of their respective departments and any state-funded entities, which include school districts, charter schools, public post-secondary educational institutions, and any entity contracting with or receiving grants from these departments. The purpose of these offices is to promote efficiency, effectiveness, and the prevention of fraud and abuse, while keeping department secretaries, the governor, the state auditor, and the legislature informed of problems and corrective actions. These inspectors general will have broad access to departmental information, coordinate with other oversight bodies like the state auditor, and report findings and recommendations, referring potential criminal matters to appropriate legal authorities. The act also creates a "government accountability coordinating council" composed of the state auditor, attorney general, inspectors general, and the director of the legislative finance committee to review their work plans and reports, with all offices required to submit annual work plans and reports detailing their activities, findings, and progress on recommendations, and to make public reports available online, while protecting confidential information. Inspectors general will be appointed by department secretaries based on merit and will operate independently within their departments, reporting directly to the secretary, and any actions regarding their employment must be reported to the legislative finance committee.