SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2009 SESSION

091792606
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 790
Offered January 23, 2009
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the need to establish an office of inspector general to investigate fraud, waste and unnecessary duplication in the administration of state government programs. Report.
----------
Patron-- Loupassi
----------
Referred to Committee on Rules
----------

WHEREAS, the state administers many programs involving the disbursement of the people's money; and

WHEREAS, recent news articles concerning the fraudulent misappropriation of money set aside for the delivery of services, undetected waste, and unnecessary duplication of programs has heightened concerns in these tight economic times; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of an office of inspector general may reduce the incidence of fraud, waste, and unnecessary duplication by increased and independent scrutiny of the administration of state government programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the need to establish an office of inspector general to investigate fraud, waste, and unnecessary duplication in the administration of state government programs.  The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of seven legislative members. Members shall be appointed as follows:  five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates and two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall evaluate the need for the creation of an office of inspector general to investigate fraud, waste, and unnecessary duplication in the administration of state government programs. The joint subcommittee, as part of its study, shall identify the benefits and the burdens of outsourcing this inspector general function to the private sector if the joint subcommittee finds that there is a need for an office of inspector general.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Joint Audit and Review Commission. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2009 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $4,200 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2009, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and the report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2009 interim.