| There is a State Performance Audit which is usually conducted by the office of the Auditor & Inspector. It studies the flow of resources and identifies inefficiencies, as well as pointing out where accountability is lacking. State Auditor, Gary Jones can define what a performance audit does better than I can. But the important thing it does is give the taxpayers a confidence that their hard-earned tax dollar is well managed. If we follow a rigorous schedule of State Performance Audits, we will have less resistance from voters when a real need for increase does exist. Agencies will say; "Oh, we do an audit every year." But they generally only do an in-house balancing of a checkbook.
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HB2311 Is A Good Start..
When he declared for the governor's office, Gary Richardson made the performance audit a key plank of his campaign platform, last April. the following month the legislature passed a new law to make it a statutory duty of a new legislative commission Last May, the legislature & governor passed a new law called the "Agency Performance and Accountability Act".
The new Agency is a consortium of both legislative bodies and the governor's office. It seems to subvert the constitutional role of the independently elected State Auditor & Inspector. There seems to be a reasoning of the legislature in taking this historical role away from the constitutional office of State Auditor. We are continuing to look into that.
But if the people's concern is met, then let's get on with it! The new law (HB2311) sets up a 4-year cycle of audits of key agencies of the govt. There is one very good reason for the legislature posessing their own research. The State Attorney General has sealed some state audits in the past. That has led to it's own suspicions, especially if the targets of an audit are pouring campaign funds to a candidate for Attorney General. But the same can happen if a member of this new commission gets compromised by campaign money.
The new Agency Performance & Accountability Commission (APAC) is mandated to conduct an Independent Comprehensive Performance Audit of the top 20 Agencies of the Executive Branch, as determined by dollars appropriated. This commission is a new power of the legislature and could add a very high level of agency accountability. We will step up our monitoring of this agency.
Just because it's law, doesn't mean anything, if the legislature ignores the law. Our constitution mandates that the legislature asks the voters if they want a new Constitutional Convention for Oklahoma govt. The legislature has defied the constitution on that duty for decades; despite their oath of office which requires them to swear (or affirm) that "I will faithfully discharge my duties to the best of my ability."
The new Agency is a consortium of both legislative bodies and the governor's office. It seems to subvert the constitutional role of the independently elected State Auditor & Inspector. There seems to be a reasoning of the legislature in taking this historical role away from the constitutional office of State Auditor. We are continuing to look into that.
But if the people's concern is met, then let's get on with it! The new law (HB2311) sets up a 4-year cycle of audits of key agencies of the govt. There is one very good reason for the legislature posessing their own research. The State Attorney General has sealed some state audits in the past. That has led to it's own suspicions, especially if the targets of an audit are pouring campaign funds to a candidate for Attorney General. But the same can happen if a member of this new commission gets compromised by campaign money.
The new Agency Performance & Accountability Commission (APAC) is mandated to conduct an Independent Comprehensive Performance Audit of the top 20 Agencies of the Executive Branch, as determined by dollars appropriated. This commission is a new power of the legislature and could add a very high level of agency accountability. We will step up our monitoring of this agency.
Just because it's law, doesn't mean anything, if the legislature ignores the law. Our constitution mandates that the legislature asks the voters if they want a new Constitutional Convention for Oklahoma govt. The legislature has defied the constitution on that duty for decades; despite their oath of office which requires them to swear (or affirm) that "I will faithfully discharge my duties to the best of my ability."
HB2311 Is Already Ignored...
HB2311 went into effect on the day that the governor signed it (May 24th, 2017). But with the state mental health department claiming to be out of money and shutting down within days, this commission should have begun a performance audit on the day that the Oklahoma Supreme Court cut the department's funding by $73 million (Aug. 8th). It's been 3 months and the legislature has the powers they sought. Now they have no excuse for their failure of leadership.
The text of the new law...
HOUSE BILL 2311 (download)
By: McCall, Murdock and Montgomery of the House and Schulz, Daniels, Leewright, Dugger and Sharp of the Senate
An Act relating to public finance; creating the Agency Performance and Accountability Act; providing short title; creating Agency Performance and Accountability Commission;
SUBJECT: Agency Performance and Accountability Act
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1.
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 8001 of Title 62, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Agency Performance and Accountability Act".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 8002 of Title 62, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Agency Performance and Accountability Commission which shall consist of:
1. Three members appointed by the Governor:
a. at least one of whom shall be the president, owner, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of an Oklahoma-based company, and
b. at least one of whom shall be an auditor who is employed as an internal auditor by a company or who is employed by a private auditing firm;
2. Three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, at least one of whom shall be a business efficiency expert;
3. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, at least one of whom shall be a business efficiency expert; and
4. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, or his or her designee who is an employee of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, who shall be an ex officio and nonvoting member.
B. No person shall be appointed to the Commission who at the time of his or her appointment is an elected official. Any person who is appointed to the Commission who subsequently becomes an elected official during his or her term on the Commission shall be required to vacate his or her position on the Commission.
C. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall provide staff and administrative support to the Commission.
SECTION 3.
A. The Agency Performance and Accountability Commission shall conduct independent comprehensive performance audits. The term "independent comprehensive performance audit" (ICPA) includes, but is not limited to, a review and analysis of the economy, efficiency, effectiveness and compliance of the policies, management, fiscal affairs and operations of state agencies, divisions, programs and accounts. The results of an ICPA may be used by the Legislature to implement the best budgeting and policy-making practices for government services to run in the most cost-effective way.
B. The Commission shall conduct an ICPA for each appropriated executive branch agency having total state appropriations for a fiscal year which rank the agency in the highest twenty such agencies. The Commission shall develop a schedule under which an ICPA for each such agency shall be conducted at least once every four (4) fiscal years. The Commission may also conduct an ICPA of any other agency at its discretion, subject to the availability of funds.
C. By December 31 of each year, the Commission shall issue an annual report on the status of implementation of audit recommendations. The Commission may also include its comments or recommendations based on any ICPA in this report.
A. The Agency Performance and Accountability Commission may contract with a private company, nonprofit organization or academic institution to assist with an independent comprehensive performance audit. The Commission may, but shall not be required to, contract with the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector to conduct any ICPA. The Commission shall develop the scope of services for a request for proposals issued, for professional services necessary to complete each ICPA. Prior to entering into any contract, the Commission shall obtain no less than three separate bids for the auditing services, unless the Commission determines that fewer than three entities meet the qualifications to bid to perform such services as set forth by the Commission. The cost of the contract shall be paid by the Legislative Services Bureau.
B. The Commission shall provide the results of each ICPA in a written report to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall be made publicly available on the Oklahoma State Legislature's website and documents.ok.gov.
C. The independent comprehensive performance audit shall address but not be limited to the following topics:
1. Policies which shall include constitutional mandates, if any, statutory mandates, statutory authorizations, administrative rules or policies of the affected agency reflected in internal agency documents or agency practices;
2. All sources of funding received by the agency, inclusive of federal funds, state appropriations, state-dedicated revenues, fee revenue sources, the use of agency revolving funds or any other fund or revenue source which is used to pay the expenses of the agency;
3. Management of the agency which shall include, but not be limited to, its governance, capacity, divisions, programs, accounts, information technology systems and policies and agency operations which include objective analysis of the roles and functions of the department; and
4. A schedule for implementation of agency-specific recommendations. D. Bills and resolutions introduced to implement any specific recommendation of this report shall not be subject to filing deadlines set by the Legislature.
SECTION 5.
A. The state agency which has undergone an independent comprehensive performance audit shall implement the recommendations of the Agency Performance and Accountability Commission as concluded from the independent comprehensive performance audit.
B. Not later than twelve (12) months after the completion of the independent comprehensive performance audit, the Commission shall review the implementation of the recommendations in the audit.
C. The Commission shall issue a report regarding the extent to which the agency has or has not implemented the recommendations of the audit. The follow-up report shall be submitted to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall be made publicly available on the Oklahoma State Legislature's website and documents.ok.gov.
D. The state agency shall be required to provide an explanation or justification for any failure to implement the recommendations of an independent comprehensive performance audit.
SECTION 6.
It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
By: McCall, Murdock and Montgomery of the House and Schulz, Daniels, Leewright, Dugger and Sharp of the Senate
An Act relating to public finance; creating the Agency Performance and Accountability Act; providing short title; creating Agency Performance and Accountability Commission;
- providing for membership and staffing and administrative support of Commission;
- requiring Commission to conduct certain independent comprehensive performance audits;
- defining term;
- allowing audit results to be used by Legislature in certain manner;
- specifying agencies to be audited;
- requiring certain reports; providing for certain contracts and providing procedures;
- specifying topics to be addressed by audit;
- exempting certain bills and resolutions from legislative deadlines;
- providing for implementation of audit recommendations and review thereof;
- requiring agencies to provide explanation or justification for failure to implement audit recommendations;
- providing for codification; and
- declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Agency Performance and Accountability Act
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1.
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 8001 of Title 62, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Agency Performance and Accountability Act".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 8002 of Title 62, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Agency Performance and Accountability Commission which shall consist of:
1. Three members appointed by the Governor:
a. at least one of whom shall be the president, owner, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of an Oklahoma-based company, and
b. at least one of whom shall be an auditor who is employed as an internal auditor by a company or who is employed by a private auditing firm;
2. Three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, at least one of whom shall be a business efficiency expert;
3. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, at least one of whom shall be a business efficiency expert; and
4. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, or his or her designee who is an employee of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, who shall be an ex officio and nonvoting member.
B. No person shall be appointed to the Commission who at the time of his or her appointment is an elected official. Any person who is appointed to the Commission who subsequently becomes an elected official during his or her term on the Commission shall be required to vacate his or her position on the Commission.
C. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall provide staff and administrative support to the Commission.
SECTION 3.
A. The Agency Performance and Accountability Commission shall conduct independent comprehensive performance audits. The term "independent comprehensive performance audit" (ICPA) includes, but is not limited to, a review and analysis of the economy, efficiency, effectiveness and compliance of the policies, management, fiscal affairs and operations of state agencies, divisions, programs and accounts. The results of an ICPA may be used by the Legislature to implement the best budgeting and policy-making practices for government services to run in the most cost-effective way.
B. The Commission shall conduct an ICPA for each appropriated executive branch agency having total state appropriations for a fiscal year which rank the agency in the highest twenty such agencies. The Commission shall develop a schedule under which an ICPA for each such agency shall be conducted at least once every four (4) fiscal years. The Commission may also conduct an ICPA of any other agency at its discretion, subject to the availability of funds.
C. By December 31 of each year, the Commission shall issue an annual report on the status of implementation of audit recommendations. The Commission may also include its comments or recommendations based on any ICPA in this report.
A. The Agency Performance and Accountability Commission may contract with a private company, nonprofit organization or academic institution to assist with an independent comprehensive performance audit. The Commission may, but shall not be required to, contract with the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector to conduct any ICPA. The Commission shall develop the scope of services for a request for proposals issued, for professional services necessary to complete each ICPA. Prior to entering into any contract, the Commission shall obtain no less than three separate bids for the auditing services, unless the Commission determines that fewer than three entities meet the qualifications to bid to perform such services as set forth by the Commission. The cost of the contract shall be paid by the Legislative Services Bureau.
B. The Commission shall provide the results of each ICPA in a written report to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall be made publicly available on the Oklahoma State Legislature's website and documents.ok.gov.
C. The independent comprehensive performance audit shall address but not be limited to the following topics:
1. Policies which shall include constitutional mandates, if any, statutory mandates, statutory authorizations, administrative rules or policies of the affected agency reflected in internal agency documents or agency practices;
2. All sources of funding received by the agency, inclusive of federal funds, state appropriations, state-dedicated revenues, fee revenue sources, the use of agency revolving funds or any other fund or revenue source which is used to pay the expenses of the agency;
3. Management of the agency which shall include, but not be limited to, its governance, capacity, divisions, programs, accounts, information technology systems and policies and agency operations which include objective analysis of the roles and functions of the department; and
4. A schedule for implementation of agency-specific recommendations. D. Bills and resolutions introduced to implement any specific recommendation of this report shall not be subject to filing deadlines set by the Legislature.
SECTION 5.
A. The state agency which has undergone an independent comprehensive performance audit shall implement the recommendations of the Agency Performance and Accountability Commission as concluded from the independent comprehensive performance audit.
B. Not later than twelve (12) months after the completion of the independent comprehensive performance audit, the Commission shall review the implementation of the recommendations in the audit.
C. The Commission shall issue a report regarding the extent to which the agency has or has not implemented the recommendations of the audit. The follow-up report shall be submitted to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall be made publicly available on the Oklahoma State Legislature's website and documents.ok.gov.
D. The state agency shall be required to provide an explanation or justification for any failure to implement the recommendations of an independent comprehensive performance audit.
SECTION 6.
It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
