Posted: | March 6, 2017 09:47 AM |
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From: | Senator Mike Folmer |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Requiring Audit Recommendation Implementation Plan to Auditor General |
Openness, transparency, and accountability have been goals since I first joined the General Assembly and throughout my time in the Senate. There are a number of ways to reach these goals -- including the Office of Auditor General. The Auditor General is empowered to audit agencies receiving state funding. However, there's no requirement audited agencies do anything in response to any recommendations or findings in an Auditor General's report. Recently, Representative Frank Ryan introduced legislation (House Bill 453) to require state agencies to respond to the Auditor General within 120 days of furnished audits of their respective agencies. Failure to respond to a furnished audit within 120 days would result in a suspension of any appropriation to that agency (which includes a person, association, corporation, or public agency). I believe such a requirement is key to better openness, transparency, and accountability for state government departments in their expenditure of taxpayer monies. I plan to offer companion legislation to HB 453 to require a response to recommendations of Auditor General reports -- including the audited agency's recommended implementation plan to address any audit findings. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation to help state-funded agencies be more open, transparent, and accountable. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact Fallon Binner at 787-5708 or fbinner@pasen.gov. |
Introduced as SB550