Bill > HB1009

This bill amends several existing state laws related to the duties and procedures of the Washington State Auditor's office. The key provisions of the bill are as follows: 1. It requires state agencies and local governments to report known or suspected losses of public funds, assets, or other illegal activity to the State Auditor's office, and allows the Auditor to adopt policies to implement this requirement. 2. It expands the State Auditor's existing toll-free hotline to allow public employees and members of the public to report waste, inefficiency, or abuse, as well as examples of efficiency or outstanding achievement, by state and local agencies. The bill specifies procedures for reviewing and investigating these reports, and requires the Auditor to publicly report the results. 3. It makes changes to the requirements for local governments to file financial reports with the State Auditor, including removing a requirement to report on expenditures for labor relations consultants. 4. It removes a requirement for the State Auditor to report biennially to the legislature on the status of certain funds and accounts that are not managed by the State Treasurer. 5. It repeals several sections of law related to performance audits conducted by the State Auditor's office. Overall, this bill aims to update and clarify the State Auditor's duties and procedures, particularly around reporting and investigating potential financial issues or inefficiencies in state and local government.