ENGR. H. B. NO. 2696 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 2696 By: Kendrix and Roberts of the House and Bergstrom of the Senate An Act relating to state government; amending 74 O.S. 2021, Section 213.2, which relates to performance audits; modifying provisions relate d to certain examinations by the State Auditor and Inspector; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 213.2, is amended to read as follows : Section 213.2 A. There is hereby created in the Office of the State Auditor and Insp ector a Performance Audit Division, subject to the discretion of the State Auditor and Inspector. An Assistant State Auditor and In spector may be appointed to direct the operations of the Division, subject to the supervision and control of the State Auditor and Inspector at all times. B. The State Auditor and Inspector, deputi es and agents of the Performance Audit Division may examin e all books and accounts of all public officers, institutions and other governmental entities ENGR. H. B. NO. 2696 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 specified in Sections 212 thro ugh 227.9 of this title to instruct the proper officers thereof in the per formance of their duties and to prescribe cost-effective methods of operating such governmental entities; provided, however, the State Auditor and Inspector shall perform the examinations authorized in this subsection upon receiving a written request to do so by the Governor, Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Repr esentatives, President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate, the chief executive officer of a governmenta l entity or pursuant to a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. A copy of the examination shal l be given to the examined entity. A c opy of any examination conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the appropriations and budget chai rs of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and of the Senate. C. The cost of the e xaminations authorized pursuant to subsection B of this section shall be borne by the examined agency in an amount not to exceed the actual costs of the examination. Prior to the start of such an examination, the State Auditor and Inspector shall prepare in writing and present to the affected state agency an estimate of the cost of the examination. If the estim ate requires revision, the State Audito r and Inspector shall notify the agency in a prompt manner. Except as otherwise provided, the State ENGR. H. B. NO. 2696 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Auditor and Inspector shall recover its costs for the examination pursuant to monthly progress billings presented by the State Auditor and Inspector to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services detailing current monthly costs for each examination. In addi tion, the State Auditor and Inspector shall provide a copy of the billing to the affected state agency. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services may deduct the amounts billed from the next subsequent allotment for the corresponding state agency an d transfer the funds to the State Auditor and Inspector Revolving Fund. D. The salaries and traveling expens es of the Assistant State Auditor and Inspector, deputies and agents of the Performance Audit Division and the costs of material, supplies and equ ipment for the Division shall be paid from funds made available through appropriation by the Legislature. E. The State Auditor and Inspector shall s ubmit an annual report of the Performance Audit Division to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, appropriations and budget chairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the Minorit y Leader of the Senate and of the House of Representatives. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby ENGR. H. B. NO. 2696 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. Passed the House of Representatives the 7th day of March, 2023. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2023. Presiding Officer of the Senate