SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 423

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

AN ACT

RELATING TO AUDITS; REQUIRING THE STATE AUDITOR TO PERFORM EDUCATION-RELATED REVIEWS AND AUDITS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.

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] EDUCATION-RELATED REVIEWS AND AUDITS--SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.--The state auditor shall conduct education-related reviews and audits of school districts and charter schools to deter and investigate fraud and to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of school district or charter school operations, reliability and integrity of financial and operational information, safeguarding of assets and compliance with contracts and state and federal laws and rules. The state auditor shall consult with the public education department when determining a school district or charter school to review or audit."

     SECTION 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL AND APPROPRIATIONS.--Three of the six full-time equivalent positions in the office of inspector general of the public education department and appropriations that support those positions are transferred to the office of the state auditor.

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2011.

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