Brief Description: Establishing a state government efficiency hotline.

Sponsors: Senators Kilmer, Holmquist, Hobbs, Marr, Oemig, Hatfield, McAuliffe and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Management
House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: The State Auditor's duties include investigating improper governmental activity. Currently, the State Auditor operates the constituent referral program which allows the public to phone a general 1-800 phone number with complaints about the government, such as waste and inefficiency. The public is also able to file complaints through the State Auditor's website.

Summary: Within existing funds, the State Auditor is required to establish a toll-free telephone line for public employees and members of the public to recommend measures to improve efficiency in state and local government and to report waste, inefficiency, abuse, efficiency or outstanding achievement by state and local agencies, public employees, or persons under contract with state and local agencies.

The State Auditor is required to: prepare and make available information explaining the purpose of the hotline; designate staff to be responsible for processing the recommendations from the hotline; conduct an initial review of each recommendation; decide which recommendations require further examination; prepare a written determination of the results of the investigation; make public the conclusions of this determination and distribute the conclusions to the affected agencies; and provide an annual overview and update of hotline investigations to the appropriate legislative committees.
   
The identity of the person making the recommendation is confidential, unless that person signs a written waiver or until the investigation is complete. All documents related to the report and investigation must also be kept confidential until the completion of the investigation.
   

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   0
House      96   0

Effective:   July 22, 2007