Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

Mississippi House Bill HB914

Introduced

1/17/22

Refer

1/17/22

Failed

2/1/22

Caption

Agencies; require to provide monthly report of expenditures of state and federal public funds.

Impact

The new law seeks to create a more structured and consistent reporting process for agencies, outlining specific details about the expenditures, including current month expenditures and an aggregate of expenditures made to date for the current fiscal year. The law requires the internal audit departments within state agencies to develop a robust monthly reporting process, thereby making financial operations more transparent. This will also help legislators and oversight bodies monitor the financial activities and manage public funds more effectively.

Summary

House Bill 914 mandates that each state agency in Mississippi report all expenditures made with federal and state public funds on a monthly basis. These reports are to be submitted on the last official business day of each month to the State Auditor, who is authorized to inspect the expenditures at any time deemed necessary. Additionally, the reports are sent to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriation Committees. The intent behind this legislation is to enhance governmental transparency and ensure accountability in the usage of public funds.

Contention

Notably, the implementation of HB 914 could result in increased administrative burdens for state agencies. Some concerns have been raised regarding the feasibility of producing detailed monthly reports, especially for agencies with large or complex budgets. Critics argue that while transparency is crucial, the reporting requirements may divert resources away from critical services or projects that agencies are aimed to support. Discussions around the bill also highlight the importance of balancing transparency with operational efficiency within agencies.