Sec. 1. Outside audits of state agencies. The Governor shall cause an audit of every state agency as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 1710-K, subsection 1, paragraph F to be performed on a staggered basis over a 6-year period. The audits must be carried out by auditors other than those employed by the Department of Audit who are selected through a competitive bidding process. The first audits must cover fiscal year 1998-99 and the results must be submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the Governor not later than December 31, 1999. Later audits must cover subsequent fiscal years through fiscal year 2003-04; and the related reports must be submitted no later than December 31st in each year through 2004. The agencies to be audited each year are as determined by the Governor, except that the Department of Human Services and the Department of Transportation must be audited in the first year.

SUMMARY

This bill requires every state agency receiving state funds to undergo an audit over the next 6 years by outside auditors selected through competitive bidding.