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 $1,037,515 the first year and $968,555 the second year from the general fund to support the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman and the Corrections Oversight Committee.
2. The Ombudsman shall develop a short-term and long-term strategic plan that (i) is informed by visits to Department facilities, at least two public meetings, consultation with stakeholders, and review of best practices in other states; (ii) includes procedures for coordination with existing employees at the Office of the State Inspector General and the Department, in collaboration with those employees and with the goal of complementing existing efforts; and (iii) includes potential options and recommendations for legislation and budget actions that would support its short-term and long-term goals. The Office shall provide a report on its initial activities and strategic plan to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2025.