Committee advances amendment to create Department of Governmental Auditing and revise state auditor duties

The committee moved H 34 30 — a bill to establish a Department of Governmental Auditing and revise the selection, term and duties of the state auditor — to a vote after members discussed and adopted a set of amendments.

The amendment presented to the committee would delete existing language and authorize the new department to select a state auditor who would be reappointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate and serve a six-year term beginning July 1 and ending June 30 six years later. The amendment also spells out qualifications and sets a seven-month maximum holdover period to bridge appointments pending required certification and the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report process.

Amanda, a staff member who walked the committee through the amendment, said the revised language would require the auditor to be “selected without regard to political affiliation and on the basis of integrity, capability for strong leadership,…