Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 3.2, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of this appropriation shall be paid the annual salary of the State Inspector General $177,142 from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 and $177,142 from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

B. The Office of the State Inspector General shall be responsible for investigating the management and operations of state agencies and nonstate agencies to determine whether acts of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption have been committed or are being committed by state officers or employees or any officers or employees of a nonstate agency, including any allegations of criminal acts affecting the operations of state agencies or nonstate agencies. However, no investigation of an elected official of the Commonwealth to determine whether a criminal violation has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur under the provisions of § 52-8.1 shall be initiated, undertaken, or continued except upon the request of the Governor, the Attorney General, or a grand jury.

C. The Office of the State Inspector General shall be responsible for coordinating and recommending standards for those internal audit programs in existence as of July 1, 2012, and developing and maintaining other internal audit programs in state agencies and nonstate agencies as needed in order to ensure that the Commonwealth's assets are subject to appropriate internal management controls. The State Inspector General shall assess the condition of the accounting, financial, and administrative controls of state agencies and nonstate agencies.

D. The Office of the State Inspector General shall be responsible for providing timely notification to the appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and law-enforcement agencies whenever the State Inspector General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of state criminal law.

E. The Office of the State Inspector General shall be responsible for assisting citizens in understanding their rights and the processes available to them to express concerns regarding the activities of a state agency or nonstate agency or any officer or employee of the foregoing;

F.1. The Office of the State Inspector General shall be responsible for development, coordination and management of a program to train internal auditors. The Office of the State Inspector General shall assist internal auditors of state agencies and institutions in receiving continued professional education as required by professional standards. The Office of the State Inspector General shall coordinate its efforts with state institutions of higher education and offer training programs to the internal auditors as well as coordinate any special training programs for the internal auditors.

2. To fund the direct costs of hiring training instructors, the Office of the State Inspector General is authorized to collect fees from training participants to provide training events for internal auditors.

G.1. Out of the amounts appropriated in this item is $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund to establish the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman. The purpose of the Ombudsman is to (i) provide information to inmates, family members, Department of Corrections employees, and others regarding the rights of inmates and employees; (ii) monitor conditions of confinement, assess compliance with existing policies and best practices, and make recommendations to facilities; (iii) provide technical assistance to support inmate self- advocacy; (iv) establish procedures to gather stakeholder input into the Ombudsman's activities; and (v) make recommendations that would support the safety and wellbeing of inmates and employees. As it relates to access to Department of Corrections' facilities and records, the Ombudsman and his employees shall have the same powers as Office of the State Inspector General employees who are authorized to conduct inspections of licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities.

2. The Corrections Oversight Committee ("Committee") shall consist of 13 voting members, including: (i) two members of the Senate who are not members of the same political party, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; (ii) two members of the House of Delegates who are not members of the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and (iii) the following nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor: (a) one representative of a nonprofit prisoner advocacy group; (b) one representative of a nonprofit organization that provides training or rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals; (c) two citizens who were formerly incarcerated within the Commonwealth for a term of imprisonment of three years or more within the 10 years immediately preceding their appointment provided that such citizens have had their civil rights restored by the Governor; (d) one licensed physician; (e) one licensed mental health or behavioral health professional; (f) one person who is a family member of a person currently incarcerated within the Commonwealth; (g) one current or former Department correctional officer in a supervisory role selected from an association of correctional officers and employees or a nonprofit organization in which he is a member; and (h) one current or former Department line correctional officer selected from an association of correctional officers and employees or a nonprofit organization in which he is a member. Members appointed to the Corrections Oversight Committee shall serve a term of three years. Pursuant to §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825, Code of Virginia, Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses. The Committee shall meet at least once annually. The Committee shall be responsible for advising, assisting, and providing guidance to the Ombudsman.

3. The Ombudsman shall develop a short- and long-term strategic plan that (i) is informed by visits to Department of Corrections facilities, at least two public meetings, consultation with stakeholders, and reviewing best practices in other states; (ii) includes procedures for coordination with existing employees at the Office of the State Inspector General and the Department of Corrections, in collaboration with those employees and with the goal of complimenting existing efforts; and (iii) includes potential options and recommendations for legislation and budget actions that would support its short- and long-term goals.