BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the director of financial management; amending RCW 43.88.160, 79.44.040, 79.44.050, 79.44.070, 79.44.080, and 79.44.140; and repealing RCW 79.44.180.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 43.88.160 and 1998 c 135 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

This section sets forth the major fiscal duties and responsibilities of officers and agencies of the executive branch. The regulations issued by the governor pursuant to this chapter shall provide for a comprehensive, orderly basis for fiscal management and control, including efficient accounting and reporting therefor, for the executive branch of the state government and may include, in addition, such requirements as will generally promote more efficient public management in the state.

(1) Governor; director of financial management. The governor, through the director of financial management, shall devise and supervise a modern and complete accounting system for each agency to the end that all revenues, expenditures, receipts, disbursements, resources, and obligations of the state shall be properly and systematically accounted for. The accounting system shall include the development of accurate, timely records and reports of all financial affairs of the state. The system shall also provide for central accounts in the office of financial management at the level of detail deemed necessary by the director to perform central financial management. The director of financial management shall adopt and periodically update an accounting procedures manual. Any agency maintaining its own accounting and reporting system shall comply with the updated accounting procedures manual and the rules of the director adopted under this chapter. An agency may receive a waiver from complying with this requirement if the waiver is approved by the director. Waivers expire at the end of the fiscal biennium for which they are granted. The director shall forward notice of waivers granted to the appropriate legislative fiscal committees. The director of financial management may require such financial, statistical, and other reports as the director deems necessary from all agencies covering any period.

(2) Except as provided in chapter 43.88C RCW, the director of financial management is responsible for quarterly reporting of primary operating budget drivers such as applicable workloads, caseload estimates, and appropriate unit cost data. These reports shall be transmitted to the legislative fiscal committees or by electronic means to the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee. Quarterly reports shall include actual monthly data and the variance between actual and estimated data to date. The reports shall also include estimates of these items for the remainder of the budget period.

(3) The director of financial management shall report at least annually to the appropriate legislative committees regarding the status of all appropriated capital projects, including transportation projects, showing significant cost overruns or underruns. If funds are shifted from one project to another, the office of financial management shall also reflect this in the annual variance report. Once a project is complete, the report shall provide a final summary showing estimated start and completion dates of each project phase compared to actual dates, estimated costs of each project phase compared to actual costs, and whether or not there are any outstanding liabilities or unsettled claims at the time of completion.

(4) In addition, the director of financial management, as agent of the governor, shall:

(a) Develop and maintain a system of internal controls and internal audits comprising methods and procedures to be adopted by each agency that will safeguard its assets, check the accuracy and reliability of its accounting data, promote operational efficiency, and encourage adherence to prescribed managerial policies for accounting and financial controls. The system developed by the director shall include criteria for determining the scope and comprehensiveness of internal controls required by classes of agencies, depending on the level of resources at risk.

Each agency head or authorized designee shall be assigned the responsibility and authority for establishing and maintaining internal audits following the standards of internal auditing of the institute of internal auditors;

(b) Make surveys and analyses of agencies with the object of determining better methods and increased effectiveness in the use of manpower and materials; and the director shall authorize expenditures for employee training to the end that the state may benefit from training facilities made available to state employees;

(d) Report to the governor with regard to duplication of effort or lack of coordination among agencies;

(e) Review any pay and classification plans, and changes thereunder, developed by any agency for their fiscal impact: PROVIDED, That none of the provisions of this subsection shall affect merit systems of personnel management now existing or hereafter established by statute relating to the fixing of qualifications requirements for recruitment, appointment, or promotion of employees of any agency. The director shall advise and confer with agencies including appropriate standing committees of the legislature as may be designated by the speaker of the house and the president of the senate regarding the fiscal impact of such plans and may amend or alter said plans, except that for the following agencies no amendment or alteration of said plans may be made without the approval of the agency concerned: Agencies headed by elective officials;

(f) Fix the number and classes of positions or authorized man years of employment for each agency and during the fiscal period amend the determinations previously fixed by the director except that the director shall not be empowered to fix said number or said classes for the following: Agencies headed by elective officials;

(g) Adopt rules to effectuate provisions contained in (a) through (f) of this subsection.

(5) The treasurer shall:

(a) Receive, keep, and disburse all public funds of the state not expressly required by law to be received, kept, and disbursed by some other persons: PROVIDED, That this subsection shall not apply to those public funds of the institutions of higher learning which are not subject to appropriation;

(b) Receive, disburse, or transfer public funds under the treasurer's supervision or custody;

(c) Keep a correct and current account of all moneys received and disbursed by the treasurer, classified by fund or account;

(d) Coordinate agencies' acceptance and use of credit cards and other payment methods, if the agencies have received authorization under RCW 43.41.180;

(e) Perform such other duties as may be required by law or by regulations issued pursuant to this law.

It shall be unlawful for the treasurer to disburse public funds in the treasury except upon forms or by alternative means duly prescribed by the director of financial management. These forms or alternative means shall provide for authentication and certification by the agency head or the agency head's designee that the services have been rendered or the materials have been furnished; or, in the case of loans or grants, that the loans or grants are authorized by law; or, in the case of payments for periodic maintenance services to be performed on state owned equipment, that a written contract for such periodic maintenance services is currently in effect and copies thereof are on file with the office of financial management; and the treasurer shall not be liable under the treasurer's surety bond for erroneous or improper payments so made. When services are lawfully paid for in advance of full performance by any private individual or business entity other than as provided for by RCW 42.24.035, such individual or entity other than central stores rendering such services ((~~shall~~)) may be requested to make a cash deposit or furnish surety bond coverage to the state as shall be fixed in an amount by law, or if not fixed by law, then in such amounts as shall be fixed by the director of the department of general administration but in no case shall such required cash deposit or surety bond, if requested, be less than an amount which will fully indemnify the state against any and all losses on account of breach of promise to fully perform such services. No payments shall be made in advance for any equipment maintenance services to be performed more than ((~~three~~)) twelve months after such payment. Any such bond so furnished shall be conditioned that the person, firm or corporation receiving the advance payment will apply it toward performance of the contract. The responsibility for recovery of erroneous or improper payments made under this section shall lie with the agency head or the agency head's designee in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to this chapter. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a public body to advance funds to a private service provider pursuant to a grant or loan before services have been rendered or material furnished.

(6) The state auditor shall:

(a) Report to the legislature the results of current post audits that have been made of the financial transactions of each agency; to this end the auditor may, in the auditor's discretion, examine the books and accounts of any agency, official, or employee charged with the receipt, custody, or safekeeping of public funds. Where feasible in conducting examinations, the auditor shall utilize data and findings from the internal control system prescribed by the office of financial management. The current post audit of each agency may include a section on recommendations to the legislature as provided in (c) of this subsection.

(b) Give information to the legislature, whenever required, upon any subject relating to the financial affairs of the state.

(c) Make the auditor's official report on or before the thirty-first of December which precedes the meeting of the legislature. The report shall be for the last complete fiscal period and shall include determinations as to whether agencies, in making expenditures, complied with the laws of this state. The state auditor is authorized to perform or participate in performance verifications and performance audits as expressly authorized by the legislature in the omnibus biennial appropriations acts or in the performance audit work plan approved by the joint legislative audit and review committee. The state auditor, upon completing an audit for legal and financial compliance under chapter 43.09 RCW or a performance verification, may report to the joint legislative audit and review committee or other appropriate committees of the legislature, in a manner prescribed by the joint legislative audit and review committee, on facts relating to the management or performance of governmental programs where such facts are discovered incidental to the legal and financial audit or performance verification. The auditor may make such a report to a legislative committee only if the auditor has determined that the agency has been given an opportunity and has failed to resolve the management or performance issues raised by the auditor. If the auditor makes a report to a legislative committee, the agency may submit to the committee a response to the report. This subsection (6) shall not be construed to authorize the auditor to allocate other than de minimis resources to performance audits except as expressly authorized in the appropriations acts or in the performance audit work plan. The results of a performance audit conducted by the state auditor that has been requested by the joint legislative audit and review committee must only be transmitted to the joint legislative audit and review committee.

(d) Be empowered to take exception to specific expenditures that have been incurred by any agency or to take exception to other practices related in any way to the agency's financial transactions and to cause such exceptions to be made a matter of public record, including disclosure to the agency concerned and to the director of financial management. It shall be the duty of the director of financial management to cause corrective action to be taken within six months, such action to include, as appropriate, the withholding of funds as provided in RCW 43.88.110. The director of financial management shall annually report by December 31st the status of audit resolution to the appropriate committees of the legislature, the state auditor, and the attorney general. The director of financial management shall include in the audit resolution report actions taken as a result of an audit including, but not limited to, types of personnel actions, costs and types of litigation, and value of recouped goods or services.

(e) Promptly report any irregularities to the attorney general.

(f) Investigate improper governmental activity under chapter 42.40 RCW.

(7) The joint legislative audit and review committee may:

(a) Make post audits of the financial transactions of any agency and management surveys and program reviews as provided for in chapter 44.28 RCW as well as performance audits and program evaluations. To this end the joint committee may in its discretion examine the books, accounts, and other records of any agency, official, or employee.

(b) Give information to the legislature or any legislative committee whenever required upon any subject relating to the performance and management of state agencies.

(i) Determinations as to the extent to which agencies in making expenditures have complied with the will of the legislature and in this connection, may take exception to specific expenditures or financial practices of any agencies; and

(ii) Such plans as it deems expedient for the support of the state's credit, for lessening expenditures, for promoting frugality and economy in agency affairs, and generally for an improved level of fiscal management.

Sec. 2. RCW 79.44.040 and 1989 c 243 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

Notice of the intention to make such improvement, or impose any assessment, together with the estimate of the amount to be charged to each lot, tract or parcel of land, or other property owned by the state to be assessed, shall be forwarded by registered or certified mail to the ((~~director of financial management and to the~~)) chief administrative officer of the agency of state government occupying, using, or having jurisdiction over such lands at least thirty days prior to the date fixed for hearing on the resolution or petition initiating said assessment. Such assessing district, shall not have jurisdiction to order such improvement as to the interest of the state in harbor areas and state tidelands until the written consent of the commissioner of public lands to the making of such improvement shall have been obtained, unless other means be provided for paying that portion of the cost which would otherwise be levied on the interest of the state of Washington in and to said tidelands, and nothing herein shall prevent the city from assessing the proportionate cost of said improvement against any leasehold, contractual or possessory interest in and to any tideland or harbor area owned by the state: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in the case of tidelands and harbor areas within the boundaries of any port district, notice of intention to make such improvement shall also be forwarded to the commissioners of said port district.

Sec. 3. RCW 79.44.050 and 1989 c 243 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:

Upon the approval and confirmation of the assessment roll ordered by the proper authorities of any assessing district, the treasurer of such assessing district shall certify and forward ((~~to the director of financial management and~~)) to the chief administrative officer of the agency of state government occupying, using, or having jurisdiction over the lands((~~, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the director of financial management may provide,~~)) a statement of all the lots or parcels of land held or owned by the state and charged on such assessment roll, separately describing each such lot or parcel of the state's land, with the amount of the local assessment charged against it, or the proportionate amount assessed against the fee simple interest of the state, in case said land has been leased. The chief administrative officer upon receipt of such statement shall cause a proper record to be made in his office of the cost of such assessment upon the lands occupied, used, or under the jurisdiction of his agency.

No penalty shall be provided or enforced against the state, and the interest upon such assessments shall be computed and paid at the rate paid by other property situated in the same assessing district.

Sec. 4. RCW 79.44.070 and 1979 c 151 s 180 are each amended to read as follows:

When any assessing district has made or caused to be made an assessment against such leasehold, contractual or possessory interest for any such local improvement, the treasurer of said assessing district shall immediately give notice to the ((~~director of financial management and to the~~)) chief administrative officer of the agency having jurisdiction over the lands. Said assessment shall become a lien against the leasehold, contractual or possessory interest in the same manner as the assessments on other property, and its collection may be enforced against such interests as provided by law for the enforcement of other local improvement assessments: PROVIDED, That said assessment shall not be made payable in installments unless the owner of such leasehold, contractual or possessory interest shall first file with such treasurer a satisfactory bond guaranteeing the payment of such installments as they become due.

Sec. 5. RCW 79.44.080 and 1979 c 151 s 181 are each amended to read as follows:

Whenever any assessing district shall have foreclosed the lien of any such delinquent assessments, as provided by law, and shall have obtained title to such leasehold, contractual or possessory interest, ((~~the director of financial management and~~)) the chief administrative officer of the agency having jurisdiction over the lands shall be notified by registered or certified mail of such action and furnished a statement of all assessments against such leasehold, contractual or possessory interest, and the chief administrative officer ((~~or director of financial management~~)) shall cause the amount of such assessments to be paid as provided in RCW 79.44.060, and upon the receipt of an assignment from such assessing district, the chief administrative officer shall cancel such lease or contract: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That unless the assessing district making said local improvement and levying said special assessment shall have used due diligence in the foreclosure thereof, the chief administrative officer ((~~and the director of financial management~~)) shall not be required to pay any sum in excess of what they deem to be the special benefits accruing to the state's reversionary interest in said property: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That if such delinquent assessment or installment shall be against a leasehold interest in fresh water harbor areas within a port district, the chief administrative officer shall notify the commissioners of said port district of the receipt of such assignment, and said commissioners shall forthwith cancel such lease.

Sec. 6. RCW 79.44.140 and 1979 c 151 s 182 are each amended to read as follows:

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all local improvements initiated after June 11, 1919, including assessments to pay the cost and expense of taking and damaging property by the power of eminent domain, as provided by law: PROVIDED, That in case of eminent domain assessments, it shall not be necessary to forward notice of the intention to make such improvement, but the eminent domain commissioners, authorized to make such assessment, shall, at the time of filing the assessment roll with the court in the manner provided by law, forward by registered or certified mail ((~~to the director of financial management and~~)) to the chief administrative officer of the agency using, occupying or having jurisdiction over the lands a notice of such assessment, and of the day fixed by the court for the hearing thereof: PROVIDED, That no assessment against the state's interest in tidelands or harbor areas shall be binding against the state if the commissioner of public lands shall file a disapproval of the same in court before judgment confirming the roll.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. RCW 79.44.180 (Director of financial management to adopt rules and regulations) and 1979 c 151 s 183 & 1963 c 20 s 14 are each repealed.