H-3830              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2847

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Vekich, Van Luven and Silver

Read first time 1/24/90 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to contracting by the state auditor; amending RCW 43.09.250 and 43.09.300; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the private sector offers significant untapped financial expertise and that it would be beneficial for the state to take advantage of that expertise when performing audits of state and local government entities.  Therefore it is the legislature's intent to require the state auditor to increase the proportion of audits performed under contract with certified public accountants.

        Sec. 2.  Section 43.09.250, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 1, chapter 52, Laws of 1988 and RCW 43.09.250 are each amended to read as follows:

          After the auditor has formulated and installed the system of uniform accounting in any or all classes of public offices, he may appoint additional assistants as required, who shall be known as state examiners.  In addition, the state auditor ((may)) shall contract with certified public accountants certified in Washington to carry out ((such portions)) at least fifty percent of the duties of the division of municipal corporations ((as the state auditor may determine)).

        Sec. 3.  Section 43.09.300, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 1, chapter 53, Laws of 1988 and RCW 43.09.300 are each amended to read as follows:

          There shall be in the office of the state auditor a division to be known as the division of departmental audits.  The state auditor may appoint and deputize an assistant to be known as chief examiner, who shall have charge and supervision of the division and who may, with the approval of the state auditor, appoint and employ such state examiners and clerical assistants as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the division.  In addition, the state auditor ((may)) shall contract with certified public accountants certified in Washington to carry out ((such portions)) at least fifty percent of the duties of the division of departmental audits ((as the state auditor may determine)).