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S.B. 200 Enrolled

                 

STATE AUDITOR - EXPANSION OF DUTIES

                 
2003 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Michael G. Waddoups

                  This act modifies the functions and duties of the State Auditor. This act provides that the
                  State Auditor may conduct performance and special purpose audits of any entity that
                  receives public funds, clarifies the state auditor's authority to access records, and
                  eliminates certain obsolete requirements. This act makes technical and conforming
                  changes. This act includes a coordination clause.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  AMENDS:
                      62A-15-109, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 8, Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth
                  Special Session
                      62A-15-712, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 8, Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth
                  Special Session
                      63A-3-103, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 212, Laws of Utah 1993
                      67-3-1, as last amended by Chapter 106, Laws of Utah 1999
                      67-3-5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 62A-15-109 is amended to read:
                       62A-15-109. Responsibilities of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
                  Health.
                      (1) It is the responsibility of the division to assure that the requirements of this part are
                  met and applied uniformly by local substance abuse authorities and local mental health
                  authorities across the state.
                      (2) Since it is the division's responsibility to contract with, review, approve, and
                  oversee local substance abuse authority plans and local mental health authority plans, and to
                  withhold funds from local substance abuse authorities, local mental health authorities, and
                  public and private providers for contract noncompliance or misuse of public funds, the division


                  shall:
                      (a) require each local substance abuse authority and each local mental health authority to
                  submit its plan to the division by May 1 of each year;
                      (b) conduct an annual program audit and review of each local substance abuse authority
                  in the state and its contract provider and each local mental health authority in the state, and its
                  contract provider; and
                      (c) provide a written report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee on July
                  1, 1999, and each year thereafter, and provide an oral report to that committee, as requested.
                  That report shall provide information regarding:
                      (i) the annual audit and review;
                      (ii) the financial expenditures of each local substance abuse authority and its contract
                  provider and each local mental health authority and its contract provider;
                      (iii) the status of each local authority's and its contract provider's compliance with its
                  plan, state statutes, and with the provisions of the contract awarded; and
                      (iv) whether audit guidelines established pursuant to Section 62A-15-110 and Subsection
                  67-3-1 [(2)(o)](10) provide the division with sufficient criteria and assurances of appropriate
                  expenditures of public funds.
                      (3) The annual audit and review described in Subsection (2)(b) shall, in addition to items
                  determined by the division to be necessary and appropriate, include a review and determination
                  regarding whether public funds allocated to local substance abuse authorities and local mental
                  health authorities are consistent with services rendered and outcomes reported by them or their
                  contract providers, and whether each local substance abuse authority and each local mental health
                  authority is exercising sufficient oversight and control over public funds allocated for substance
                  abuse and mental health programs and services.
                      (4) The Legislature may refuse to appropriate funds to the division upon the division's
                  failure to comply with the provisions of this part.
                      Section 2. Section 62A-15-712 is amended to read:
                       62A-15-712. Responsibilities of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental

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                  Health.
                      (1) [It is the responsibility of the] The division [to] shall ensure that the requirements of
                  this part are met and applied uniformly by local mental health authorities across the state.
                      (2) [Since it is the division's responsibility,] Because the division must, under Section
                  62A-15-103 , [to] contract with, review, approve, and oversee local mental health authority plans,
                  and [to] withhold funds from local mental health authorities and public and private providers for
                  contract noncompliance or misuse of public funds, the division shall:
                      (a) require each local mental health authority to submit its plan to the division by May 1
                  of each year; and
                      (b) conduct an annual program audit and review of each local mental health authority in
                  the state, and its contract provider[; and].
                      (3) (a) The division shall:
                      [(c)] (i) provide a written report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee
                  [on] by July 1[, 1996, and] of each year [thereafter,]; and
                      (ii) provide an oral report to that committee, as requested.
                      (b) That report shall provide information regarding:
                      (i) the annual audit and review;
                      (ii) the financial expenditures of each local mental health authority and its contract
                  provider;
                      (iii) the status of each local authority's and its contract provider's compliance with its
                  plan, state statutes, and with the provisions of the contract awarded; and
                      (iv) whether audit guidelines established [pursuant to] under Subsections
                  62A-15-713 (2)(a) and 67-3-1 [(2)(o)](10) provide the division with sufficient criteria and
                  assurances of appropriate expenditures of public funds.
                      [(3)] (4) The annual audit and review described in Subsection (2)(b) shall, in addition to
                  items determined by the division to be necessary and appropriate, include a review and
                  determination regarding whether or not:
                      (a) public funds allocated to local mental health authorities are consistent with services

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                  rendered and outcomes reported by it or its contract provider[,]; and
                      [whether] (b) each local mental health authority is exercising sufficient oversight and
                  control over public funds allocated for mental health programs and services.
                      [(4)] (5) The Legislature may refuse to appropriate funds to the division [upon] if the
                  [division's failure] division fails to comply with the [provisions of this part] procedures and
                  requirements of this section.
                      Section 3. Section 63A-3-103 is amended to read:
                       63A-3-103. Fiscal procedures provided by director of division -- Application to
                  institutions of higher education.
                      (1) The director of the Division of Finance shall:
                      (a) define fiscal procedures relating to approval and allocation of funds;
                      (b) provide for the accounting control of funds;
                      (c) approve proposed expenditures for the purchase of supplies and services;
                      (d) promulgate rules that:
                      (i) establish procedures for maintaining detailed records of all types of leases;
                      (ii) account for all types of leases in accordance with generally accepted accounting
                  principles;
                      (iii) require the performance of a lease with an option to purchase study by state agencies
                  prior to any lease with an option to purchase acquisition of capital equipment; and
                      (iv) require that the completed lease with an option to purchase study be approved by the
                  director of the Division of Finance; and
                      (e) prescribe other fiscal functions required by law or under the constitutional authority
                  of the governor to transact all executive business for the state.
                      (2) (a) Institutions of higher education are subject to the provisions of Title 63A, Chapter
                  3, [Parts] Part 1, General Provisions, and Part 2, Accounting System, only to the extent expressly
                  authorized or required by the State Board of Regents under Title 53B, State System of Higher
                  Education.
                      (b) Institutions of higher education shall submit financial data for the past fiscal year

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                  conforming to generally accepted accounting principles to the director of the Division of Finance.
                      (3) The Division of Finance shall prepare financial statements and other reports in
                  accordance with legal requirements and generally accepted accounting principles for the state
                  auditor's examination and certification:
                      (a) not later than 60 days after a request from the state auditor; and
                      (b) at the end of each fiscal year.
                      Section 4. Section 67-3-1 is amended to read:
                       67-3-1. Functions and duties.
                      (1) (a) The state auditor [shall be] is the auditor of public accounts and [as such shall be]
                  is independent of any executive or administrative officers of the state.
                      (b) [He] The state auditor is not limited in the selection of [his] personnel or in the
                  determination of the reasonable and necessary expenses of his office.
                      (2) The state auditor shall[: (a)] examine and certify annually in respect to each fiscal
                  year, financial statements showing:
                      (a) the condition of the state's finances[,];
                      (b) the revenues received or accrued[,];
                      (c) expenditures paid or accrued[, and];
                      (d) the amount of unexpended or unencumbered balances of the appropriations to the
                  agencies, departments, divisions, commissions, and institutions; and
                      (e) the cash balances of the funds in the custody of the state treasurer. [The Division of
                  Finance shall prepare the foregoing financial statements and other reports in accordance with
                  legal requirements and generally-accepted accounting principles for the state auditor's
                  examination and certification, as requested and not later than 60 days following such requests or
                  the end of each fiscal year. The auditor shall file the statements with the governor and the
                  Legislature;]
                      [(b) (i)] (3) (a) The state auditor shall:
                      (i) audit each permanent fund, each special fund, the General Fund, and the accounts of
                  any department of state government or any independent agency or public corporation [on a

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                  regular basis] as the law requires, as the auditor [shall determine] determines is necessary, or
                  upon request of the governor or the Legislature[. These audits are to be performed];
                      (ii) perform the audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and other
                  auditing procedures as promulgated by recognized authoritative bodies[. The audits shall be
                  conducted];
                      (iii) as the auditor determines is necessary, conduct the audits to determine:
                      (A) honesty and integrity in fiscal affairs[,];
                      (B) accuracy and reliability of financial statements[,];
                      (C) effectiveness and adequacy of financial controls[,]; and
                      (D) compliance with the law[, as the auditor shall determine necessary;].
                      [(ii) in the event that] (b) If any state entity receives federal funding, the state auditor
                  shall ensure that the audit [shall be] is performed in accordance with federal audit requirements
                  [under the direction of the state auditor].
                      (c) (i) The costs of the federal compliance portion of the audit may be paid from an
                  appropriation to the state auditor from the General Fund.
                      (ii) If an appropriation is not provided, or if the federal government does not specifically
                  provide for payment of audit costs, the costs of the federal compliance portions of the audit shall
                  be allocated on the basis of the percentage that each state entity's federal funding bears to the
                  total federal funds received by the state.
                      (iii) The allocation shall be adjusted to reflect any reduced audit time required to audit
                  funds passed through the state to local governments and to reflect any reduction in audit time
                  obtained through the use of internal auditors working under the direction of the state auditor[;].
                      [(c) present to the governor on October 1st of each year and to the Legislature on the first
                  day of each annual general session, a statement of his appropriation expenditures segregated as
                  to cost of salaries, travel, office and other expenses, and capital outlay for equipment, together
                  with his recommendations as to new legislation and a complete record of the accomplishments of
                  his office for the preceding year;]
                      [(d) issue subpoenas requiring any person who has had financial transactions with the

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                  state to appear before him and to answer under oath, orally or in writing, as to any facts
                  concerning these transactions; and for the purpose of obtaining any such facts the state auditor is
                  empowered to administer oaths;]
                      (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the state auditor shall, in addition to
                  financial audits, and as the auditor determines is necessary, conduct performance and special
                  purpose audits, examinations, and reviews of any entity that receives public funds, including a
                  determination of any or all of the following:
                      (i) the honesty and integrity of all its fiscal affairs;
                      (ii) whether or not its administrators have faithfully complied with legislative intent;
                      (iii) whether or not its operations have been conducted in an efficient, effective, and
                  cost-efficient manner;
                      (iv) whether or not its programs have been effective in accomplishing the intended
                  objectives; and
                      (v) whether or not its management, control, and information systems are adequate and
                  effective.
                      (b) The auditor may not conduct performance and special purpose audits, examinations,
                  and reviews of any entity that receives public funds if the entity:
                      (i) has an elected auditor; and
                      (ii) has, within the entity's last budget year, had its financial statements or performance
                  formally reviewed by another outside auditor.
                      (5) The state auditor shall administer any oath or affirmation necessary to the
                  performance of the duties of the auditor's office, and may subpoena witnesses and documents,
                  whether electronic or otherwise, and examine into any matter that the auditor considers
                  necessary.
                      [(e)] (6) The state auditor may require[, in his discretion,] all persons who have had the
                  disposition or management of any property of this state or its political subdivisions to [render]
                  submit statements regarding it [to him, and each of these persons must render the statements] at
                  [such times] the time and in [such] the form [as] that the auditor [may require;] requires.

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                      (7) The state auditor shall:
                      [(f)] (a) except where otherwise provided by law, institute suits in Salt Lake County in
                  relation to the assessment, collection, and payment of its revenues against:
                      (i) persons who by any means have become entrusted with public monies or property and
                  have failed to pay over or deliver [the same] those monies or property; and [against]
                      (ii) all debtors of the state[, all of which suits of the courts of the county in which the seat
                  of government may be located shall have jurisdiction without regard to the residence of the
                  defendants];
                      [(g) authenticate with his official seal all copies of papers issued from his office as he
                  considers necessary;]
                      [(h)] (b) collect and pay into the state treasury all fees received by [him] the state auditor;
                      [(i)] (c) perform the duties of a member of all boards of which [he] the state auditor is [or
                  may be made] a member by the constitution or laws of the state, and [such] any other duties [as]
                  that are prescribed by the constitution and by law;
                      [(j)] (d) stop the payment of the salary of any state official or state employee who:
                      (i) refuses to settle [his] accounts or [render such] provide required statements [as may
                  be required with respect to] about the custody and disposition of public funds or other state
                  property [or who];
                      (ii) refuses, neglects, or ignores the instruction of the state auditor or any controlling
                  board or department head with respect to the manner of keeping prescribed accounts or funds; or
                  [who]
                      (iii) fails to correct any delinquencies, improper procedures, and errors brought to [his]
                  the official's or employee's attention;
                      [(k)] (e) establish accounting systems, methods, and forms for public accounts in all
                  taxing or fee-assessing units of the state in the interest of uniformity, efficiency, and economy;
                      [(l)] (f) superintend the contractual auditing of all state accounts;
                      [(m)] (g) subject to Subsection (8), withhold state allocated funds or the disbursement of
                  property taxes from any state taxing or fee-assessing unit, if necessary, to ensure that officials

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                  and employees in those taxing units of the state comply with state laws and procedures in the
                  budgeting, expenditures, and financial reporting of public funds[. Except as otherwise specified
                  in the law, funds may not be withheld until a taxing unit has received formal written notice of
                  noncompliance from the auditor and has been given 60 days to make the specified corrections;];
                  and
                      [(n)] (h) subject to Subsection (9), withhold the disbursement of tax monies from any
                  county, if necessary, to ensure that officials and employees in the county comply with Section
                  59-2-303.1 . [For purposes of this subsection, funds may not be withheld until a county has
                  received formal written notice of noncompliance from the auditor and has been given 60 days to
                  make the specified corrections; and]
                      (8) Except as otherwise provided by law, the state auditor may not withhold funds under
                  Subsection (7)(g) until a taxing or fee-assessing unit has received formal written notice of
                  noncompliance from the auditor and has been given 60 days to make the specified corrections.
                      (9) The state auditor may not withhold funds under Subsection (7)(h) until a county has
                  received formal written notice of noncompliance from the auditor and has been given 60 days to
                  make the specified corrections.
                      [(o)] (10) The state auditor shall:
                      (a) establish audit guidelines and procedures for audits of local mental health and
                  substance abuse authorities and their contract providers, conducted pursuant to Title 17A,
                  Chapter 3, Parts 6 and 7, Title 62A, [Chapters 8 and 12] Chapter 15, and Title 51, Chapter 2[.
                  Those]; and
                      (b) ensure that those guidelines and procedures [shall be established for the purpose of
                  providing] provide assurances to the state that:
                      (i) state and federal funds appropriated to local mental health authorities are used for
                  mental health purposes;
                      (ii) a private provider under an annual or otherwise ongoing contract to provide
                  comprehensive mental health programs or services for a local mental health authority is in
                  compliance with state and local contract requirements, and state and federal law;

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                      (iii) state and federal funds appropriated to local substance abuse authorities are used for
                  substance abuse programs and services; and
                      (iv) a private provider under an annual or otherwise ongoing contract to provide
                  comprehensive substance abuse programs or services for a local substance abuse authority is in
                  compliance with state and local contract requirements, and state and federal law.
                      (11) The state auditor may, in accordance with the auditor's responsibilities for political
                  subdivisions of the state as provided in Title 51, Chapter 2, Audits of Political Subdivisions,
                  Interlocal Organizations and Other Local Entities, initiate audits or investigations of any political
                  subdivision that are necessary to determine honesty and integrity in fiscal affairs, accuracy and
                  reliability of financial statements, effectiveness, and adequacy of financial controls and
                  compliance with the law.
                      [(3)] (12) (a) The state auditor may not audit work [he] that the state auditor performed
                  before becoming state auditor. [In the event that]
                      (b) If the state auditor has previously been a responsible official in state government
                  whose work has not yet been audited, the Legislature shall:
                      (i) designate how [such] that work shall be audited; and [shall]
                      (ii) provide additional funding for [such] those audits, if necessary.
                      [(4)] (13) (a) The following records in the custody or control of the state auditor [shall
                  be] are protected records under Title 63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
                  Management Act:
                      [(a)] (i) records that would disclose information relating to allegations of personal
                  misconduct, gross mismanagement, or illegal activity of a past or present governmental employee
                  if the information or allegation cannot be corroborated by the state auditor through other
                  documents or evidence, and the records relating to the allegation are not relied upon by the state
                  auditor in preparing a final audit report;
                      [(b)] (ii) records and audit workpapers to the extent they would disclose the identity of a
                  person who during the course of an audit, communicated the existence of any waste of public
                  funds, property, or manpower, or a violation or suspected violation of a law, rule, or regulation

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                  adopted under the laws of this state, a political subdivision of the state, or any recognized entity
                  of the United States, if the information was disclosed on the condition that the identity of the
                  person be protected;
                      [(c) prior to the time that] (iii) before an audit is completed and the final audit report is
                  released, records or drafts circulated to a person who is not an employee or head of a
                  governmental entity for their response or information;
                      [(d)] (iv) records that would disclose an outline or part of any audit survey plans or audit
                  program; and
                      [(e)] (v) requests for audits, if disclosure would risk circumvention of an audit[;].
                      [(f) the] (b) The provisions of Subsections [(a), (b), and (c)] (13)(a)(i), (ii), and (iii) do
                  not prohibit the disclosure of records or information that relate to a violation of the law by a
                  governmental entity or employee to a government prosecutor or peace officer[; and].
                      [(g) the] (c) The provisions of this [section] Subsection (13) do not limit the authority
                  otherwise given to the state auditor to classify a document as public, private, controlled, or
                  protected under Title 63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
                      Section 5. Section 67-3-5 is amended to read:
                       67-3-5. Right of visitation and examination.
                      [The] For the purpose of carrying out the duties of the state auditor, the state auditor shall
                  have access to all [state] offices of public entities during business hours for the inspection of
                  [such books, papers and accounts thereof as may concern his duties] their records, regardless of
                  any general limitation on access to records provided in an entity's individual statute.
                      Section 6. Coordination clause.
                      If this bill and H.B. 44, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Amendments, both pass, it is
                  the intent of the Legislature that the cross reference in H.B. 44, Subsection 62A-15-103 (2)(g)(iv)
                  to "Subsection 67-3-1 (2)(o)" be replaced with "Subsection 67-3-1 (10)".

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