To amend sections 117.01, 117.11, and 117.12 of the Revised Code to make changes in the law governing the Auditor of State's audits of public offices.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Sec. 117.01. As used in this chapter:

(A) "Color of office" means actually, purportedly, or allegedly done under any law, ordinance, resolution, order, or other pretension to official right, power, or authority.

(B) "Public accountant" means any person who is authorized by Chapter 4701. of the Revised Code to use the designation of certified public accountant or who was registered prior to January 1, 1971, as a public accountant.

(C) "Public money" means any money received, collected by, or due a public official under color of office, as well as any money collected by any individual on behalf of a public office or as a purported representative or agent of the public office.

(D) "Public office" means any state agency, public institution, political subdivision, other organized body, office, agency, institution, or entity established by the laws of this state for the exercise of any function of government.

(E) "Public official" means any officer, employee, or duly authorized representative or agent of a public office.

(F) "State agency" means every organized body, office, agency, institution, or other entity established by the laws of the state for the exercise of any function of state government.

(G) "AUDIT" MEANS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) ANY EXAMINATION, ANALYSIS, OR INSPECTION OF THE STATE'S OR A PUBLIC OFFICE'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR REPORTS;

(2) ANY EXAMINATION, ANALYSIS, OR INSPECTION OF RECORDS, DOCUMENTS, BOOKS, OR ANY OTHER EVIDENCE RELATING TO EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:

(a) THE COLLECTION, RECEIPT, ACCOUNTING, USE, OR EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEY BY A PUBLIC OFFICE OR BY A PRIVATE INSTITUTION, ASSOCIATION, BOARD, OR CORPORATION;

(b) THE DETERMINATION BY THE AUDITOR OF STATE, AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 117.11 of the Revised Code, OF WHETHER A PUBLIC OFFICE HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL THE LAWS, RULES, ORDINANCES, OR ORDERS PERTAINING TO THE PUBLIC OFFICE.

(3) ANY OTHER TYPE OF EXAMINATION, ANALYSIS, OR INSPECTION OF A PUBLIC OFFICE OR OF A PRIVATE INSTITUTION, ASSOCIATION, BOARD, OR CORPORATION RECEIVING PUBLIC MONEY THAT IS CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED OR GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY RULE PURSUANT TO SECTION 117.19 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 117.11. (A) Except as OTHERWISE provided in THIS division (D) of this section, the auditor of state shall commence an audit of each public office not more than AT LEAST ONCE EVERY two FISCAL years from the release date of the last audit report of such public office. THE AUDITOR OF STATE SHALL AUDIT A PUBLIC OFFICE EACH FISCAL YEAR IF THAT PUBLIC OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO BE AUDITED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS PURSUANT TO "THE SINGLE AUDIT ACT OF 1984," 98 STAT. 2327, 31 U.S.C.A. 7501 ET SEQ., AS AMENDED. In the ANNUAL OR BIENNIAL audit, inquiry shall be made into the methods, accuracy, and legality of the accounts, financial reports, records, files, and reports of the office, whether the laws, RULES, ordinances, and orders pertaining to the office have been observed, and whether the requirements and rules of the auditor of state have been complied with. Except AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS DIVISION OR where auditing standards or procedures dictate otherwise, each audit shall cover at least one fiscal year. IF A PUBLIC OFFICE IS AUDITED ONLY ONCE EVERY TWO FISCAL YEARS, THE AUDIT SHALL COVER BOTH FISCAL YEARS.

(B) IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL OR BIENNIAL AUDIT PROVIDED FOR IN DIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE AUDITOR OF STATE MAY CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF A PUBLIC OFFICE AT ANY TIME WHEN SO REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC OFFICE OR UPON THE AUDITOR OF STATE'S OWN INITIATIVE IF THE AUDITOR OF STATE HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT AN ADDITIONAL AUDIT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

(B)(C)(1) The auditor of state shall identify any public office in which the auditor of state will be unable to conduct an audit AT LEAST once every two FISCAL years as required by division (A) of this section and shall provide immediate written notice to the clerk of the legislative authority or governing board of the public office so identified. Within six months of the receipt of such notice, the legislative authority or governing board may engage an independent certified public accountant to conduct an audit pursuant to section 117.12 of the Revised Code.

(2) When the chief fiscal officer of a public office notifies the auditor of state that an audit is required at a time prior to the next regularly scheduled audit by the auditor of state, the auditor of state shall either cause an earlier audit to be made by the auditor of state or authorize the legislative authority or governing board of the public office to engage an independent certified public accountant to conduct the required audit. The scope of the audit shall be as authorized by the auditor of state.

(3) The auditor of state shall approve the scope of an audit under division (B)(C)(1) or (2) of this section as set forth in the contract for the proposed audit before the contract is executed on behalf of the public office that is to be audited. The independent accountant conducting an audit under division (B)(C)(1) or (2) of this section shall be paid by the public office.

(C)(D) If a uniform accounting network is established under section 117.101 of the Revised Code, the auditor of state or a certified public accountant employed pursuant to this section or section 115.56 of the Revised Code shall, to the extent practicable, utilize services offered by the network in order to conduct efficient and economical audits of public offices.

(D) The auditor of state may, by rule, provide for waiver of the two-year requirement of division (A) of this section with respect to:

(1) Public offices participating in a uniform accounting network established under section 117.101 of the Revised Code;

(2) Public offices that are not required by federal law to be audited in accordance with federal auditing standards.

The rules may provide for the application of specified audit procedures to such public offices in lieu of an audit in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

(E) The auditor of state shall, in accordance with division (A)(3) of section 9.65 of the Revised Code and this section, audit an annuity program for volunteer fire fighters established by a political subdivision under section 9.65 of the Revised Code. As used in this section, "volunteer fire fighters" and "political subdivision" have the same meanings as in division (C) of section 9.65 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 117.12. Any public accountant engaged to perform an audit pursuant to division (B)(C) of section 117.11 of the Revised Code shall conduct the audit pursuant to the standards, procedures, and guidelines of the auditor of state for such audits. The auditor of state shall establish these standards, procedures, and guidelines by rule. The audit shall cover the period beginning with the termination date of the most recent audit conducted under this section or section 117.11 of the Revised Code and ending on the date specified by the auditor of state. The accountant shall inquire into the methods, accuracy, and legality of the accounts, records, files, and reports of the public office and shall note whether, in his THE ACCOUNTANT'S opinion, the laws, RULES, ordinances, and orders pertaining to the public office have been complied with. The accountant shall have no authority to make formal findings of illegality, malfeasance, or gross neglect under this division or section 117.23 of the Revised Code.