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Senate subcommittee reviews amendment to create appointed State Auditor office; members move to carry H 3430 for further work
Summary
The Senate Finance constitutional subcommittee reviewed a proposed amendment to House Bill H 3430 that would establish a Department of Governmental Auditing and an appointed State Auditor with a six‑year term and authority to audit the State Treasurer's Office and local governments; the subcommittee unanimously voted to carry the bill
Subcommittee members reviewed a proposed amendment to House Bill H 3430 that would establish a Department of Governmental Auditing headed by a State Auditor appointed by the governor with Senate advice and consent.
Amanda, a member of committee staff, summarized the amendment for members: it would create the department, set a six‑year term (July 1 of the appointing year to June 30 of the ending year), authorize removal by the governor for cause, set salary by the agency head salary commission and allow the auditor to hire deputies, accountants and investigators. The amendment would require the auditor to annually audit financial statements prepared by the State Treasurer's Office, permit examination of bank records related to the treasurer's transactions, require reporting of apparent violations of law or malfeasance to the governor and attorney general, and create a division of local government services to audit county treasurers and ensure compilations and audits from municipalities are submitted to the department.
Senators debated structural and constitutional choices. Senator from Williamsburg said she preferred strengthening independent audit oversight rather than changing election status of the treasurer or the comptroller general: "I really believe that this idea is more important than the idea of moving the state treasurer and the comptroller general's office under the governor." She argued an independent auditor could serve as the check and balance missing between elected offices.
Senator Pickens and others raised implementation and cost questions. Staff noted the new department would require technical auditing capacity that does not exist at scale today and that funding and staffing decisions would be matters for the budget process. Senator Pickens also queried the six‑year term and potential removal mechanics.
Committee staff said they intended to take the amendment up again at the committee's Thursday meeting to give members time to review language and consult with colleagues. At the meeting's close, senators moved to carry H 3430 to the next committee meeting. The motion to carry the bill was made and seconded and passed on voice vote; the committee later moved and passed a motion to adjourn.
No final passage or change to the underlying House bill occurred at this hearing; the amendment will be revisited at a subsequent subcommittee meeting.
