Bill Text: NC H1035 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: LGC/Training for Local Gov't Finance Officers
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-06-30 - Ch. SL 2016-84 [H1035 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2015-H1035-Chaptered.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2015
SESSION LAW 2016-84
HOUSE BILL 1035
AN ACT authorizing the local government commission to require basic financial training for finance officers of certain local governments and public authorities.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 159‑25 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑25. Duties of finance officer; dual signatures on checks; internal control procedures subject to Commission regulation.
(a) The finance officer shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) He shall keepKeep
the accounts of the local government or public authority in accordance with
generally accepted principles of governmental accounting and the rules and
regulations of the Commission.
(2) He shall disburseDisburse
all funds of the local government or public authority in strict compliance with
this Chapter, the budget ordinance, and each project ordinance and shall
preaudit obligations and disbursements as required by this Chapter.
(3) As often as may be
requested by the governing board or the manager, he shall prepare Prepare
and file with the board a statement of the financial condition of the local
government or public authority.authority, as often as may be
requested by the governing board or the manager.
(4) He shall receive Receive
and deposit all moneys accruing to the local government or public
authority, or supervise the receipt and deposit of money by other duly
authorized officers or employees.
(5) He shall maintainMaintain
all records concerning the bonded debt and other obligations of the local
government or public authority, determine the amount of money that will be
required for debt service or the payment of other obligations during each
fiscal year, and maintain all sinking funds.
(6) He shall superviseSupervise
the investment of idle funds of the local government or public authority.
(7) He shall performPerform
such other duties as may be assigned to him by law, by the manager,
budget officer, or governing board, or by rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(8) Attend any training required by the Local Government Commission under this section.
All references in other portions of the General Statutes, local acts, or city charters to county, city, special district, or public authority accountants, treasurers, or other officials performing any of the duties conferred by this section on the finance officer shall be deemed to refer to the finance officer.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, all checks or drafts on an official depository shall be signed by the finance officer or a properly designated deputy finance officer and countersigned by another official of the local government or public authority designated for this purpose by the governing board. If the board makes no other designation, the chairman of the board or chief executive officer of the local government or public authority shall countersign these checks and drafts. The governing board of a unit or authority may waive the requirements of this subsection if the board determines that the internal control procedures of the unit or authority will be satisfactory in the absence of dual signatures.
(c) The Local Government Commission has authority to issue rules and regulations having the force of law governing procedures for the receipt, deposit, investment, transfer, and disbursement of money and other assets by units of local government and public authorities, may inquire into and investigate the internal control procedures of a local government or public authority, and may require any modifications in internal control procedures which, in the opinion of the Commission, are necessary or desirable to prevent embezzlements or mishandling of public moneys.
(d) The Local Government Commission has the authority to require any finance officer or any other employee who performs the duties of a finance officer to participate in training related to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the finance officer, if the Commission is exercising its authority under Article 10 of this Chapter with respect to the employing local government or public authority or the employing local government or public authority has received a unit letter from the Commission due to a deficiency in complying with this Chapter. The Commission may collaborate with the School of Government at the University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, and other educational institutions in the State to develop and deliver the training required by this subsection."
SECTION 2. G.S. 159‑6 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(f) The Commission may charge and collect fees for expenses incurred in developing and delivering the training for finance officers and other employees who perform the duties of a finance officer under G.S. 159‑25."
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 27th day of June, 2016.
s/ Daniel J. Forest
President of the Senate
s/ Tim Moore
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ Pat McCrory
Governor
Approved 9:11 a.m. this 30th day of June, 2016