SB1177 - 452R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

SB 1177

auditor general; special research requests

Sponsors: Senators Gnant, Peterson, Blanchard, Representative Pierce et al

Dp	Committee on Appropriations
dP	Caucus and COW
DP	Third Read	This bill as introduced contains *an Emergency clause.*
X	As Passed the House

SB 1177 allows the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) to require the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to perform special research requests and investigations of any state agency, and contains provisions for disclosure of information contained in the special research request working papers and audit files.

History

JLAC consists of five members from the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, and five members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House. Of the ten members, one must be a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and one must be a member of the House Appropriations Committee. The purpose of JLAC is to oversee all audit functions of the legislature and state agencies including sunset, performance, special and financial audits and the preparation and introduction of legislation resulting from audit reporting. JLAC appoints and directs the OAG to perform all sunset, performance, special and financial audits and investigations.

Provisions

· Defines special research requests as research and analysis of issues or questions that are designated as a special research request by the JLAC, but does not include a performance audit, financial audit, compliance audit, procedural review, special audit, investigation or evaluation required by law.

· Adds special research requests to the list of audit functions overseen by the JLAC.

· Adds performance of special research requests to the duties of the Auditor General.

· Extends access to specified audit documents to the OAG’s authorized representatives.

· Allows the OAG’s authorized representative to attend executive sessions of the governing body of any state agency.

· Stipulates that, upon request of the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House, the Auditor General shall disclose information contained in the special research request working papers and audit files to themselves or their designees for the purpose of overseeing the special research request.

· States that information contained in the special research request working papers and audit files is not a public record and therefore is exempt from the disclosure requirements for public documents contained in A.R.S. Title 39, ch.1.

· Prohibits a person from further disclosure of the information that is obtained from the OAG.

· States that a person who knowingly divulges any particulars of any record, document or information from a special report is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

· Contains an Emergency clause.

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

45th Legislature