Bill > H15

This bill establishes an internal special audit unit within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), but crucially, it will operate independently of MassDOT's direct control. The Inspector General Council, a body overseeing the Inspector General's office, will appoint and supervise the director of this unit, who will serve as an assistant inspector general for a six-year term and can only be removed for cause. This unit's primary responsibility, as outlined by chapter 12A of the General Laws, is to monitor the quality, efficiency, and integrity of MassDOT's programs, aiming to prevent, detect, and correct fraud, waste, and abuse in the use of transportation funds. MassDOT is mandated to fully cooperate with the unit, providing immediate and unrestricted access to all necessary personnel, documents, and data for audits and investigations. The director, with the Inspector General's approval, can hire staff with expertise in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, business management, and public administration, who will dedicate their full time to the unit and will not have direct operational duties within MassDOT. These employees will be subject to the rules of the Inspector General's office, and their appointments will be exempt from certain standard civil service regulations (chapter 30 and chapter 31).