SB1124: Local government records; clarifies authority of Auditor of Public Accounts, annual audit.


SENATE BILL NO. 1124
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Local Government
on January 22, 2013)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Ruff)
A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-2511 of the Code of Virginia, relating to auditing of local government records.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 15.2-2511 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 15.2-2511. Audit of local government records, etc.; Auditor of Public Accounts; audit of shortages.

A. Localities shall have all their accounts and records, including all accounts and records of their constitutional officers, audited annually as of June 30 by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with the specifications furnished by the Auditor of Public Accounts. The certified public accountant shall present a detailed written report to the local governing body at a public session by the following December 31. Every locality shall contract for the performance of the annual audit not later than April 1 of each fiscal year and such contract shall incorporate the provisions of this section relating to audit specifications and report date. The report shall be preserved by the clerk of the local governing body, and shall be open to public inspection at all times by any qualified voter.

The accounts and records of any county or city officer listed in Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia, hereinafter referred to as "constitutional officers," shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

When the annual audit conducted pursuant to this subsection includes the clerk of the circuit court, the audit shall satisfy the requirement of an audit pursuant to § 30-134.

In the event a locality fails to obtain the annual audit prescribed by this subsection, the Auditor of Public Accounts may undertake the audit or may employ the services of certified public accountants and charge the full cost of such services to the locality. However, no part of the cost and expense of such audit shall be paid by any locality whose governing body has its accounts audited for the fiscal years in question as prescribed above and furnishes the Auditor of Public Accounts with a copy of such audit.

B. The Except where otherwise authorized by statute, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall audit the accounts of local governments and constitutional officers only when (i) special circumstances require an audit, or (ii) there is suspected fraud or inappropriate handling of funds which may affect the financial interests of the Commonwealth. In all instances, such audits shall be carried out with the approval of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

Any shortage existing in the accounts of the locality or constitutional officer, as ascertained by the audit, shall be made public within thirty days after the shortage is discovered, and a brief statement thereof shall be sent by the Auditor of Public Accounts to the members and clerk of the local governing body and to the circuit court for the locality, and shall be filed in the clerk's office of such court.

C. The provisions of this section shall apply to all counties and cities, to all towns having a population of 3,500 or over, and to all towns constituting a separate school division regardless of their population.

SENATE BILL NO. 1124

Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 9, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact 15.2-2511 of the Code of Virginia, relating to auditing of local government records.
Patron-- Ruff

Referred to Committee on Local Government

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That 15.2-2511 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

15.2-2511. Audit of local government records, etc.; Auditor of Public Accounts; audit of shortages.

A. Localities shall have all their accounts and records, including all accounts and records of their constitutional officers, audited annually as of June 30 by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with the specifications furnished by the Auditor of Public Accounts. The certified public accountant shall present a detailed written report to the local governing body at a public session by the following December 31. Every locality shall contract for the performance of the annual audit not later than April 1 of each fiscal year and such contract shall incorporate the provisions of this section relating to audit specifications and report date. The report shall be preserved by the clerk of the local governing body, and shall be open to public inspection at all times by any qualified voter.

The accounts and records of any county or city officer listed in Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia, hereinafter referred to as "constitutional officers," shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

An audit conducted by the Auditor of Public Accounts pursuant to 30-134 shall satisfy the requirement of an annual audit prescribed by this subsection.

In the event a locality fails to obtain the annual audit prescribed by this subsection, the Auditor of Public Accounts may undertake the audit or may employ the services of certified public accountants and charge the full cost of such services to the locality. However, no part of the cost and expense of such audit shall be paid by any locality whose governing body has its accounts audited for the fiscal years in question as prescribed above and furnishes the Auditor of Public Accounts with a copy of such audit.

B. The Except where otherwise authorized by statute, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall audit the accounts of local governments and constitutional officers only when (i) special circumstances require an audit, or (ii) there is suspected fraud or inappropriate handling of funds which may affect the financial interests of the Commonwealth. In all instances, such audits shall be carried out with the approval of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

Any shortage existing in the accounts of the locality or constitutional officer, as ascertained by the audit, shall be made public within thirty days after the shortage is discovered, and a brief statement thereof shall be sent by the Auditor of Public Accounts to the members and clerk of the local governing body and to the circuit court for the locality, and shall be filed in the clerk's office of such court.

C. The provisions of this section shall apply to all counties and cities, to all towns having a population of 3,500 or over, and to all towns constituting a separate school division regardless of their population.