REFERENCE TITLE: auditor general; community college districts State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025 SB 1339 Introduced by Senators Finchem: Hoffman An Act amending section 41-1279.21, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the auditor general. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
REFERENCE TITLE: auditor general; community college districts
State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
SB 1339
Introduced by Senators Finchem: Hoffman
REFERENCE TITLE: auditor general; community college districts
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
2025
SB 1339
Introduced by
Senators Finchem: Hoffman
An Act
amending section 41-1279.21, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the auditor general.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Section 41-1279.21, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: START_STATUTE41-1279.21. Powers and duties of auditor general relating to counties, school districts, community colleges and community college districts A. In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by law, the auditor general shall: 1. Conduct or cause to be conducted annual financial statement audits of financial transactions and accounts kept by or for all counties. For a county that is required to comply with the federal single audit requirements, audits shall include compliance audits of financial transactions and applicable accounts kept by or for the county. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and, accordingly, shall include tests of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as may be considered necessary under the circumstances. Each county shall provide financial information for inclusion in the annual audit that verifies that Arizona highway user revenue fund monies received by the county pursuant to title 28, chapter 18, article 2 and any other dedicated state transportation revenues received by the county are being used solely for the authorized transportation purposes. 2. Perform procedural reviews for school districts that are not required to comply with the federal single audit requirements at times determined by the auditor general. These reviews may include evaluation of administrative and accounting internal controls and reports on such reviews. 3. Conduct or cause to be conducted annual financial statement audits of financial transactions and accounts kept by or for community college districts. For a community college district that is required to comply with the federal single audit requirements, audits shall include compliance audits of financial transactions and applicable accounts kept by or for the community college district. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and, accordingly, shall include tests of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as may be considered necessary under the circumstances. 4. Conduct or cause to be conducted performance audits of community college districts in this state. subject to review by the joint legislative audit committee, The auditor general shall determine which community college districts shall be audited. A community college district that is audited pursuant to this paragraph shall notify the auditor general in writing whether the community college district agrees or disagrees with the findings of the audit and whether the community college district will implement the Auditor general's recommendations, modify the recommendations or refuse to implement the recommendations. If the community college district agrees to implement the RECOMMENDATIONs, the community college district, at the request of the auditor general, shall submit a written report TO THE AUDITOR GENERAL regarding the status of the recommended implementations within two years after the audit. The auditor general shall review the community college district's progress toward implementing the recommendations of the audit and provide status reports to the joint legislative audit committee throughout the two-year period. The auditor general may monitor the community college district's progress beyond the two-year period for any recommendations that have not yet been implemented by the community college district. The community college district shall participate in any hearings scheduled during the two-year period by the joint legislative audit committee or by any other legislative committee designated by the joint legislative audit committee. 4. 5. Approve contracts for financial and compliance auditing services except if specific statutory authority is otherwise provided. The auditor general shall ensure that such contract audits are conducted in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and shall determine if such audits meet minimum audit standards prescribed by the auditor general. An audit shall not be accepted as meeting the requirements of this paragraph until it has been approved by the auditor general. 5. 6. Order and enforce a correct and uniform system of accounting by county, community college district and school district officers and instruct them in the proper mode of keeping accounts of their offices. 6. 7. Require of county treasurers and custodians of county, community college district or school district funds, as often as the auditor general deems necessary, a verified statement of their accounts. 7. 8. Report to the committee and to the attorney general the refusal or neglect of any county, community college district or school district officer to conform to rules and regulations of the auditor general's office. 8. 9. Report to the committee and to the governor the result of the auditor general's examinations of county, community college district and school district offices as often as required by public interest. B. The auditor general may adopt rules providing for disapproving contracts, and suspending or debarring any contractor providing financial and compliance auditing services to a school district based on applicable standards similar to those adopted by this state under section 41-2613. C. Notwithstanding any other law, the disapproval of a contract or the suspension or debarment may be appealed to the superior court pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6. END_STATUTE
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 41-1279.21, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE41-1279.21. Powers and duties of auditor general relating to counties, school districts, community colleges and community college districts
A. In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by law, the auditor general shall:
1. Conduct or cause to be conducted annual financial statement audits of financial transactions and accounts kept by or for all counties. For a county that is required to comply with the federal single audit requirements, audits shall include compliance audits of financial transactions and applicable accounts kept by or for the county. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and, accordingly, shall include tests of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as may be considered necessary under the circumstances. Each county shall provide financial information for inclusion in the annual audit that verifies that Arizona highway user revenue fund monies received by the county pursuant to title 28, chapter 18, article 2 and any other dedicated state transportation revenues received by the county are being used solely for the authorized transportation purposes.
2. Perform procedural reviews for school districts that are not required to comply with the federal single audit requirements at times determined by the auditor general. These reviews may include evaluation of administrative and accounting internal controls and reports on such reviews.
3. Conduct or cause to be conducted annual financial statement audits of financial transactions and accounts kept by or for community college districts. For a community college district that is required to comply with the federal single audit requirements, audits shall include compliance audits of financial transactions and applicable accounts kept by or for the community college district. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and, accordingly, shall include tests of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as may be considered necessary under the circumstances.
4. Conduct or cause to be conducted performance audits of community college districts in this state. subject to review by the joint legislative audit committee, The auditor general shall determine which community college districts shall be audited. A community college district that is audited pursuant to this paragraph shall notify the auditor general in writing whether the community college district agrees or disagrees with the findings of the audit and whether the community college district will implement the Auditor general's recommendations, modify the recommendations or refuse to implement the recommendations. If the community college district agrees to implement the RECOMMENDATIONs, the community college district, at the request of the auditor general, shall submit a written report TO THE AUDITOR GENERAL regarding the status of the recommended implementations within two years after the audit. The auditor general shall review the community college district's progress toward implementing the recommendations of the audit and provide status reports to the joint legislative audit committee throughout the two-year period. The auditor general may monitor the community college district's progress beyond the two-year period for any recommendations that have not yet been implemented by the community college district. The community college district shall participate in any hearings scheduled during the two-year period by the joint legislative audit committee or by any other legislative committee designated by the joint legislative audit committee.
4. 5. Approve contracts for financial and compliance auditing services except if specific statutory authority is otherwise provided. The auditor general shall ensure that such contract audits are conducted in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and shall determine if such audits meet minimum audit standards prescribed by the auditor general. An audit shall not be accepted as meeting the requirements of this paragraph until it has been approved by the auditor general.
5. 6. Order and enforce a correct and uniform system of accounting by county, community college district and school district officers and instruct them in the proper mode of keeping accounts of their offices.
6. 7. Require of county treasurers and custodians of county, community college district or school district funds, as often as the auditor general deems necessary, a verified statement of their accounts.
7. 8. Report to the committee and to the attorney general the refusal or neglect of any county, community college district or school district officer to conform to rules and regulations of the auditor general's office.
8. 9. Report to the committee and to the governor the result of the auditor general's examinations of county, community college district and school district offices as often as required by public interest.
B. The auditor general may adopt rules providing for disapproving contracts, and suspending or debarring any contractor providing financial and compliance auditing services to a school district based on applicable standards similar to those adopted by this state under section 41-2613.
C. Notwithstanding any other law, the disapproval of a contract or the suspension or debarment may be appealed to the superior court pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6. END_STATUTE