Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 596
       
       
        
       By Senator Martin
       
       
       
       
       
       33-01019-23                                            2023596__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Board of Governors of the State
    3         University System; amending s. 20.155, F.S.; granting
    4         the Office of the Inspector General of the Board of
    5         Governors additional authority to take certain actions
    6         in carrying out its duties; providing an effective
    7         date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 20.155, Florida
   12  Statutes, is amended to read:
   13         20.155 Board of Governors of the State University System.—
   14         (5) OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.—An Office of Inspector
   15  General shall be organized using existing resources and funds to
   16  promote accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and to
   17  detect fraud and abuse within state universities.
   18         (a) If the Board of Governors determines that a state
   19  university board of trustees is unwilling or unable to address
   20  substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste,
   21  fraud, or financial mismanagement, the office must shall
   22  conduct, coordinate, or request investigations into
   23  substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste,
   24  fraud, or financial mismanagement within a state university. The
   25  office shall have access to all information and personnel
   26  necessary to perform its duties and shall have all of its
   27  current powers, duties, and responsibilities authorized in s.
   28  20.055.
   29         (b) In exercising its authority under this section, the
   30  office may do any of the following:
   31         1. Issue and serve subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum, for
   32  the Board of Governors or universities under the jurisdiction of
   33  the State University System, to compel the appearance of
   34  witnesses and the production of documents, reports, answers,
   35  records, accounts, and other data in any medium.
   36         2. Require or authorize a person to file a written
   37  statement, under oath if required, as to all the facts and
   38  circumstances concerning the matter to be audited, examined, or
   39  investigated.
   40         (c) In the event of noncompliance with a subpoena issued
   41  under paragraph (b), the office may petition the circuit court
   42  of the county in which the person subpoenaed resides or has his
   43  or her principal place of business for an order requiring the
   44  subpoenaed person to appear and testify and to produce
   45  documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, or other data as
   46  specified in the subpoena.
   47         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.