44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

RELATING TO EDUCATION; INCREASING THE DUTIES OF THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL VERIFICATIONS WHEN AUDITING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of the Audit Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] ADDITIONAL AUDIT REQUIREMENTS--VERIFICATION AUDITS--PUBLIC SCHOOLS.--

A. The state auditor shall annually conduct verification audits of the membership enrollment and instructional staff training and experience index of one-third of the public school districts. The state auditor shall notify the state department of public education of any discrepancies found in the verification audits.

B. The state department of public education shall adjust the figures in the program cost calculations in the succeeding fiscal years for the school districts with discrepancies reported by the state auditor."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2001 to distribute to public schools with additional costs resulting from the verification audits of the membership enrollments and the instructional staff training and experience index conducted annually by the state auditor or his designated independent auditor. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2001 shall revert to the general fund.