By MAGGIE JOHNSON
Office of Indiana Auditor of State Suzanne Crouch

State Auditor Suzanne Crouch applauds the Indiana General Assembly for their work in the 2015 legislative session and thanks them for their hard work.

“The 2015 session was labeled the ‘education session’ by the Legislature. While wonderful gains were made for Hoosier students and families including an historic increase in education funding, I am proud that so much more was also achieved. My office’s legislative agenda focused on increasing government transparency and accountability, and that was accomplished.”

House Enrolled Act 1264 authored by State Representative Eric Koch focuses on a variety of state and local government matters and contains language advocated for by Crouch. A portion of HEA 1264 states that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Family and Social Services Administration and Department of Revenue must annually have an internal audit and review of internal control systems completed by an internal auditor in each agency who reports to an independent lead internal examiner housed in the State Board of Accounts.

The internal auditors must submit reports to the independent lead internal examiner who then will present the reports and findings to the governor, state auditor, director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Legislative Council.

“Last summer, I proposed to the Legislative Council’s Audit and Financial Reporting Subcommittee that an internal audit and controls division should be established within state government. HEA 1264 takes us one step closer to accomplishing that goal by requiring three of our largest agencies to use independent internal auditors to find fraud, abuse, waste or inconsistencies before they present major problems or damage.”

Language in HEA 1001, also laid groundwork for the Auditor’s Office to begin planning for measures that will increase efficiency and accountability state-wide.