General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5175
February Session, 2016 LCO No. 1048
*01048_______PD_*
Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Introduced by:
(PD)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 5175
February Session, 2016
LCO No. 1048
*01048_______PD_*
Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Introduced by:
(PD)
AN ACT CONCERNING LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGETS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 7-392 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):
(a) All municipalities and all local boards of education shall have all their financial statements audited at least once annually and shall provide for audits in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-230 to 4-236, inclusive. Each audited agency, except a local housing authority, shall have all its accounts audited at least once annually. Such audit shall be made by an independent auditor, as defined in section 7-391, who shall be designated in accordance with the provisions of section 7-396. Any independent auditor so retained to render such an annual or biennial audit shall have his duties and powers defined by said secretary. Any audit rendered under the provisions of this chapter shall be performed in accordance with standards adopted by the secretary by regulation and approved by the Auditors of Public Accounts.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, if the charter in any municipality contains provisions applicable with respect to selection of an independent auditor for purposes of such audit, such selection shall be conducted in accordance with the charter, provided such selection shall be subject to approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management.
(c) [In conjunction with each audit of its financial statements, each town shall provide for the auditing of the financial statements of each school district operating within its boundaries. In the case of a regional school district, the] A regional board of education shall provide for [such] an audit of each school district operating within its boundaries. Such audit shall be made in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
(d) The Commissioner of Housing shall provide for the auditing of the financial statements of each local housing authority at least once biennially. Such audit may be conducted by an independent auditor or by employees of the Department of Housing, as the commissioner may determine. The commissioner may charge any housing authority for the cost of any such audit of its accounts. Upon completion of any such audit, the commissioner shall file certified copies of the audit report with the chairman and the executive director of the housing authority, with the chief executive officer and the clerk of the municipality in which such housing authority is located and with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management.
(e) The treasurer or other officer having authority over the financial affairs of any reporting agency shall, annually, file a statement concerning the accounts and finances of such agency with the town clerk of the town in which such agency is located. Such statement shall include, but shall not be limited to, a listing of major disbursements and sources of receipts and shall be filed not later than ninety days after the end of the fiscal year or period which is the subject of the statement. Each treasurer or other officer who fails to file a statement required pursuant to this subsection shall be fined five hundred dollars for each statement not filed. The fine shall be levied and collected by the town clerk.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2016) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any special act, municipal charter, home rule ordinance or other ordinance, a town board of finance established pursuant to section 7-340 of the general statutes may increase, decrease or eliminate any noneducational expense set forth in a proposed budget by a local board of education.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2016 7-392
Sec. 2 July 1, 2016 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
July 1, 2016
7-392
Sec. 2
July 1, 2016
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To enhance oversight and transparency of local and regional board of education budgets.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]