Bill Text: HI HB318 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 318 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Auditor; Department of Education; Report to Legislature ($)

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [HB318 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB318-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	318
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AUDITING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that recently, the department of education has become the subject of public outcry when certain school bus routes were eliminated. Further, a recent auditor's report flatly stated that the department "has lost control of its student transportation program." Moreover, this report is just one of several unfavorable audits of various aspects of the department.

The legislature further finds that the department of education remains under intense public scrutiny and the public has reason to be concerned about the department's operations, including its finances and management. The program costs of the department of education constitute more than fifteen per cent of the executive branch's total program costs for fiscal biennium 2013-2015. Thus, a financial and management audit of the administration of the department of education is warranted.

The purpose of this Act is to mandate a financial and management audit of the administration of the department of education in order to assist the department, the board of education, the legislature, and the executive branch in making changes necessary to improve the department.

SECTION 2. (a) The auditor shall conduct a financial and management audit of the administration of the department of education.

(b) The audit shall, at a minimum, examine in depth the effectiveness and efficiency of the department's administrative operations, including its:

(1) Organization and management; and

(2) Efficacy of fiscal operations, particularly with respect to spending and accountability.

(c) The financial and management audit required under subsection (a) shall focus on the department of education administration and shall encompass all levels of authority, including complex area superintendents, the superintendent of education, and all authority levels in between.

(d) To maximize the efficient use of the auditor's resources, the audit conducted pursuant to this section need not examine operations at the school level unless the auditor determines it is necessary to properly audit the administration of the department.

SECTION 3. The auditor shall submit to the legislature a report of a completed audit as prescribed by the requirements of this Act no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 for the auditor to conduct a financial and management audit of the department of education, and the sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the auditor for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2013.

Report Title:

Auditor; Department of Education; Report to Legislature

Description:

Mandates a financial and management audit of the administration of the Department of Education. Appropriates funds. Effective July 1, 2013. (HB318 HD1)

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