Florida Senate - 2018 SB 1590
By Senator Taddeo
40-01408-18 20181590__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to inspectors general; amending s.
3 14.32, F.S.; specifying that the Office of Chief
4 Inspector General is a separate budget entity and
5 housed within the Executive Office of the Governor for
6 administrative purposes only; requiring that the Chief
7 Inspector General be subject to Senate confirmation;
8 providing that the Chief Inspector General may only be
9 removed from office by the Governor for cause;
10 amending s. 20.055, F.S.; specifying that the office
11 of an agency inspector general is a separate budget
12 entity from the state agency in which the office is
13 established; providing an effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 14.32, Florida
18 Statutes, is amended to read:
19 14.32 Office of Chief Inspector General.—
20 (1) There is created in the Executive Office of the
21 Governor The Office of Chief Inspector General is created and
22 housed within the Executive Office of the Governor for
23 administrative purposes only. The office is a separate budget
24 entity not subject to control, supervision, or direction by the
25 Executive Office of the Governor in any manner, including, but
26 not limited to, personnel, purchasing, transactions involving
27 real or personal property, and budgetary matters. The Chief
28 Inspector General is responsible for promoting accountability,
29 integrity, and efficiency in the agencies under the jurisdiction
30 of the Governor. The Chief Inspector General shall be appointed
31 by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor and is subject to
32 confirmation by the Senate. The Chief Inspector General may only
33 be removed from office by the Governor for cause, including
34 concerns regarding performance, malfeasance, misfeasance,
35 misconduct, or failure to carry out his or her duties under this
36 section. The Governor may not remove the Chief Inspector General
37 from office for reasons related to the subject of, the scope of,
38 or any conclusions or recommendations made from any audit or
39 investigation undertaken. However, upon a change in Governors or
40 reelection of the Governor, the Governor shall appoint, or may
41 reappoint, a Chief Inspector General before adjournment sine die
42 of the first regular session of the Legislature that convenes
43 after such change in Governors or reelection of the Governor.
44 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 20.055, Florida
45 Statutes, is amended to read:
46 20.055 Agency inspectors general.—
47 (2) An office of inspector general is established in each
48 state agency to provide a central point for coordination of and
49 responsibility for activities that promote accountability,
50 integrity, and efficiency in government. An office of inspector
51 general is a separate budget entity not subject to control,
52 supervision, or direction in any manner by the state agency in
53 which the office is established, including, but not limited to,
54 personnel, purchasing, transactions involving real or personal
55 property, and budgetary matters. It is the duty and
56 responsibility of each inspector general, with respect to the
57 state agency in which the office is established, to:
58 (a) Advise in the development of performance measures,
59 standards, and procedures for the evaluation of state agency
60 programs.
61 (b) Assess the reliability and validity of the information
62 provided by the state agency on performance measures and
63 standards, and make recommendations for improvement, if
64 necessary, before submission of such information pursuant to s.
65 216.1827.
66 (c) Review the actions taken by the state agency to improve
67 program performance and meet program standards and make
68 recommendations for improvement, if necessary.
69 (d) Provide direction for, supervise, and coordinate
70 audits, investigations, and management reviews relating to the
71 programs and operations of the state agency, except that when
72 the inspector general does not possess the qualifications
73 specified in subsection (4), the director of auditing shall
74 conduct such audits.
75 (e) Conduct, supervise, or coordinate other activities
76 carried out or financed by that state agency for the purpose of
77 promoting economy and efficiency in the administration of, or
78 preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in, its programs and
79 operations.
80 (f) Keep the agency head or, for state agencies under the
81 jurisdiction of the Governor, the Chief Inspector General
82 informed concerning fraud, abuses, and deficiencies relating to
83 programs and operations administered or financed by the state
84 agency, recommend corrective action concerning fraud, abuses,
85 and deficiencies, and report on the progress made in
86 implementing corrective action.
87 (g) Ensure effective coordination and cooperation between
88 the Auditor General, federal auditors, and other governmental
89 bodies with a view toward avoiding duplication.
90 (h) Review, as appropriate, rules relating to the programs
91 and operations of such state agency and make recommendations
92 concerning their impact.
93 (i) Ensure that an appropriate balance is maintained
94 between audit, investigative, and other accountability
95 activities.
96 (j) Comply with the General Principles and Standards for
97 Offices of Inspector General as published and revised by the
98 Association of Inspectors General.
99 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.