House Bill 3839

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3839

        By Representatives Tamargo, Littlefield, Crist, Ogles,
    Bradley, Culp, Byrd, Wallace, Miller, Safley and Murman





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Hillsborough County

  3         Hospital Authority; amending chapter 96-449,

  4         Laws of Florida; adding mandatory components of

  5         performance audits; clarifying requirements for

  6         contracting for performance audits; providing

  7         an effective date.

  8

  9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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11         Section 1.  Section 10 of chapter 96-449, Laws of

12  Florida, is amended to read:

13         Section 10.  PERFORMANCE AUDITS--

14         (1)  The Authority is subject to a performance audit

15  every 4 years, with the first such audit to be completed by

16  April 30, 1997.

17         (a)  The performance audit must be conducted in

18  accordance with Government Auditing Standards, as promulgated

19  by the United States Comptroller General, and must contain:

20         1.  An appraisal of management performance, including

21  the effectiveness of administration and the efficiency and

22  adequacy of the program the Authority is authorized by law to

23  perform.

24         2.  An assessment of adherence to general and special

25  law and any rules adopted thereunder.

26         3.  Recommendations for changes required in general or

27  special law which, if enacted, would enhance the efficiency

28  and effectiveness of the program.

29         4.  An examination and evaluation of alternative

30  methods of providing program services or products more

31  efficiently and effectively.

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  1         5.  The adequacy of operating controls and operating

  2  procedures.

  3         6.  An assessment of relations with employees and the

  4  public generally.

  5         7.  An assessment of financial impact, if any, of any

  6  of the recommendations contained in the final audit report.

  7         8.  An assessment of progress made on the most recent

  8  previous performance audit recommendations, if any.

  9         9.7.  A copy of the response received pursuant to

10  sub-subparagraph (c)2.c.

11         (b)  The audit may not be performed by any agency of

12  state or local government, with the exception of the Auditor

13  General of the State of Florida as provided by general law.

14  However, this section does not prohibit other audits

15  authorized by law.

16         (c)1.  In contracting for the audit, the Authority

17  shall use standard procedures for any public body when

18  contracting for professional services, including, but not

19  limited to:

20         a.  Public notice which must include a general

21  description of the audit and must indicate how interested

22  firms or individuals can apply for consideration, including a

23  requirement that any such applicant must provide a statement

24  of qualifications and performance data announcement, in a

25  uniform and consistent manner, when auditing services are

26  required to be purchased; a general description of the audit;

27  and an indication of how interested parties may apply for

28  consideration.

29         b.  Adopting procedures for evaluating professional

30  auditing services, including, but not limited to,

31  capabilities, adequacy and ability of professional personnel,

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  1  past record, audit and other experience of the firm or

  2  responsible individual, including a statement that such firm

  3  or individual has met the required continuing professional

  4  educational requirements as prescribed by the Florida

  5  Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Board of

  6  Accountancy, results of its most recent external quality

  7  control review, basis for fees, ability to meet time

  8  requirements, and other factors determined by the Authority to

  9  be applicable to its particular requirements.

10         c.  Making a finding that the firm or individual to be

11  employed is fully qualified pursuant to law and under the

12  adopted evaluation procedures.

13         2.  The contract must be evidenced by a written

14  document that embodies all provisions and conditions of the

15  procurement of such services, and must include, but need not

16  be limited to:

17         a.  A provision that bills for fees or other

18  compensation for services or expenses be submitted in detail

19  with supporting documentation sufficient for a proper preaudit

20  and postaudit thereof.

21         b.  A provision that bills for any travel and per diem

22  expenses be submitted in accordance with section 112.061,

23  Florida Statutes.

24         c.  A provision that, at the conclusion of the audit,

25  the entity conducting the audit shall discuss the audit with

26  the chairman of the Authority and submit to that person

27  preliminary audit findings, including relevant supporting

28  documentation, if requested which may be included in the final

29  audit report. If the chairman is not available to receive the

30  audit findings, with any adverse findings clearly designated

31  as such, delivery thereof is presumed to be made when it is

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  1  delivered to the Authority's executive office. The chairman

  2  shall submit to the entity conducting the audit, within 60

  3  days after receipt of the preliminary findings, his written

  4  response concerning all such findings, including corrective

  5  action to be taken to preclude a recurrence of any adverse

  6  findings. Thereafter, a final audit report shall be issued

  7  which must include the chairman's response and any rebuttal

  8  thereto by the entity that conducted the audit.

  9         d.  A provision that workpapers necessary to support

10  the conclusions in the final audit report shall be retained by

11  the entity that conducted the audit for 2 years following

12  delivery of the final audit and shall be made available to the

13  Authority upon a vote of the majority of the governing board

14  of the Authority. The audit report, when final, shall be

15  retained by the Authority pursuant to chapter 119, Florida

16  Statutes.

17         e.  A provision that, upon completion of the audit,

18  sufficient copies shall be filed with the Office of the

19  Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation for distribution to

20  members of the delegation and that sufficient copies be

21  provided to the Authority to meet anticipated public demand

22  for copies of such audit.

23         (d)  Funds shall be appropriated by the Authority for

24  payment of costs incurred in connection with the audit.

25         (2)  The performance audit required by this section may

26  be fulfilled by completing, within 2 years after the audit

27  completion dates required in this section, any substantially

28  similar audit that is required for continued accredited status

29  of the Authority by any accrediting organization, as defined

30  in section 395.002(1), Florida Statutes. To meet the

31  requirements of this subsection, the audit must include the

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  1  mandatory components prescribed in paragraph (1)(a) and meet

  2  the requirements of sub-subparagraphs (1)(c)c., d., and e.

  3         (3)  One year after the date of the final audit report,

  4  the chairman of the Authority shall submit to the Office of

  5  the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation a written

  6  statement of the status of recommendations and responses

  7  contained in the audit report.

  8         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  9  law.

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