Bill Text: FL S1590 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Inspectors General
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2018-03-10 - Died in Governmental Oversight and Accountability [S1590 Detail]
Download: Florida-2018-S1590-Introduced.html
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 the21GovernorThe 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 byand serve at the pleasure ofthe 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.