AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT OF UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PREVIOUSLY THE SUBJECT OF AN AUDIT BY THE STATE AUDITOR, TO REQUIRE GARNISHMENT OF CERTAIN MONIES OWED TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OF A UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, TO PROVIDE IT IS A CRIME FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO MISUSE THE ELECTED OFFICE FOR PERSONAL FINANCIAL GAIN, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC OFFICER ALSO SERVING ON A NONPROFIT BOARD SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN SELF-DEALING WITH REGARD TO AWARD OF PUBLIC AGENCY CONTRACTS TO THAT NONPROFIT. SL 2021-191. Enacted Dec. 9, 2021. Effective Dec. 9, 2021, except as otherwise provided.
Bill Summaries: S473 ENHANCE LOCAL GOV'T TRANSPARENCY.
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Bill S 473 (2021-2022)Summary date: Dec 10 2021 - View Summary
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Bill S 473 (2021-2022)Summary date: Nov 29 2021 - View Summary
House amendment to the 3rd edition makes the following changes.
Amends new GS 159-34(d), now authorizing the Local Government Commission (Commission) to require the governing board of a local government or public authority that has been the subject of an investigative audit with findings by the State Auditor, upon receipt of the investigative report pursuant to State law, to select the certified public accountant to conduct the annual audit required by the statute (previously, authorized the Commission to select the certified public accountant upon notification of release of an investigate report with respect to that local government or public authority from the State Auditor pursuant to State law). Requires that the governing board select the public accountant from a list of three provided by the Commission. Makes organizational changes. Authorizes the Commission to use the authority established by new subsection (d) with respect to any unit of local government that has been the subject of an investigative audit by the State Auditor on or after July 1, 2018 (was, any unit of local government audited by the State Auditor on or after July 1, 2018).
More specifically makes the proposed changes to GS 147-64.6 and GS 159-34, set forth in Section 1 of the act, applicable to any investigative audit (was, audit) issued by the State Auditor on or after the date the act becomes law.
Modifies new GS 14-234.2, which makes it a Class H felony for a public officer or employee to financially benefit from their position, to specify that the statute applies to elected officers of political subdivisions of the State (was, elected officials). Makes conforming and clarifying changes. Makes new GS 14-234.2 effective January 1, 2022 (was, December 1, 2021).
Adds a mens rea requirement to the new Class 1 misdemeanor for local public officials participating in contracts benefits nonprofits with which they are associated, set forth in proposed GS 14-234.3, to require a knowing violation. Changes the definition provided for public official under the new statute, now defining public official to mean any individual who is elected or appointed to serve on a governing board of a political subdivision of the State, excluding an employee or independent contractor of that political subdivision of the State (was, any individual elected or appointed to serve or represent a political subdivision of the State other than an employee or independent contractor of that political subdivision of the State). Makes the proposed statute effective January 1, 2022 (was, December 1, 2021).
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Bill S 473 (2021-2022)Summary date: Jun 22 2021 - View Summary
House committee substitute amends the 2nd edition as follows.
Changes the effective date of the proposed changes to GS 153A-28, concerning counties, and GS 160A-64.1, concerning cities, authorizing the garnishment of compensation paid to any chair or other board of commissioners member, or the mayor or city council members, respectively, to collect any unpaid monies due to the county/city for county/city services until such debt is paid in full as specified. Now provides that the changes apply to any compensation paid under these statutes on or after the date the act becomes law (was, July 1, 2021).
In Section 4 of the act, corrects the number of proposed GS 14-234.2 (Local public officials participating in contracts benefiting nonprofits with which associated) to GS 14-234.3.
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Bill S 473 (2021-2022)Summary date: May 6 2021 - View Summary
Senate amendment to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
Deletes the proposed revisions of the definitions and parameters applicable to GS 14-234, which bars public officers and employees from benefiting from public contracts. Instead, enacts GS 14-234.2, prohibiting public officials from participating in making or administering a contract (including grants, loans, and appropriations) with any nonprofit with which the public official is associated, with violations punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Defines "participate in making or administering a contract" to include deliberating or voting on a contract, attempting to influence others deliberating or voting on the contract, or soliciting or receiving any gift, favor, reward, service, or promise of reward in exchange for recommending, influencing, or attempting to influence the award of a contract by the political subdivision of the State with the nonprofit with which that public official is associated. Requires the public official to record his or her recusal with the clerk to the board prior to the political subdivision entering into or administering the contract. Establishes exceptions to the prohibition mirroring those listed in GS 14-234(b) and (d1) through (d5) as to public contracts. Voids contracts entered into in violation of the new statute, but allows contracts void under law to continue in effect until an alternative can be arranged if an immediate termination would result in harm to the public health or welfare and the continuation is approved by the Local Government Commission upon request of the political subdivision. Defines "nonprofit with which that public official is associated" as a nonprofit entity that is organized or operating in the State primarily for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, public health and safety, or educational purposes and of which the public official is the director, officer, or governing board member, excluding any board, entity, or other organization created by the State or by any political subdivision of the State. Defines public official. Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2021.
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Bill S 473 (2021-2022)Summary date: Apr 1 2021 - View Summary
Adds to the entities and notices the State Auditor must execute upon publishing an audit report pursuant to GS 147-64.6 to require the Auditor to notify the Local Government Commission upon publishing a report that is the result of an investigation of a unit of local government subject to the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act, Article 3, GS Chapter 159. Makes language gender-neutral.
Amends GS 159-34, which mandates local governments and public authorities to conduct annual audits, to authorize the Local Government Commission (Commission) to select the certified public accountant to conduct the annual audit when the Commission has received notice of a release of an investigative report with respect to that unit of local government or public authority from the State Auditor pursuant to GS 147-64.6, as amended. Permits using this authority for up to three fiscal years following the release of the investigative report. Allows the Commission to instruct the Secretary to issue a request for proposals when selecting a CPA. Requires the CPA to report directly to the Commission and governing board, comply with Commission rules, and be paid by the governing board. Authorizes the Commission to exercise the authority with respect to any unit of local government audited by the State Auditor on or after July 1, 2018.
Amends GS 153A-28, concerning counties, and GS 160A-64.1, concerning cities, to direct county and city finance officers to garnish compensation paid to any chair or other board of commissioners member, or the mayor or city council members, respectively, to collect any unpaid monies due to the county/city for county/city services until such debt is paid in full using the procedure for attachment and garnishment set forth in specified law relating to delinquent taxes. Adds to GS 153A-28, concerning counties, that the provisions of GS 105-368(a) that limits the amount of compensation that can be garnished to no more than 10% for any one pay period inapplicable to the new provision (a similar provision already exists in GS 160A-64, concerning cities); makes language gender neutral. Applies to any compensation paid under these statutes on or after July 1, 2021.
Enacts GS 14-234.2, making it a Class H felony for an elected officer to solicit or receive personal financial gain from the political subdivision for which that elected officer serves by means of intimidation, undue influence, or misuse of employees of that political subdivision. Excludes financial gain received for acting in the elected official's official capacity, or received with the approval of the respective governing board. Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2021.
Revises the definitions and parameters applicable to GS 14-234, which bars public officers and employees from benefiting from public contracts, as follows. Expands what constitutes a public officer or employee deriving a direct benefit from a contract to include that the person (either the public officer or employee, or his or her spouse) is a director, officer, or governing board member of a nonprofit entity that is organized or operating in the State primarily for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, public health and safety, or educational purposes and which is seeking a contract, excluding entities created by the State or any of its political subdivisions. Adds and defines contract to mean the award of money from the public agency in the form of a grant, loan, or other appropriation. Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2021.