SECTION 14.32. Office of Chief Inspector General.

• (1) There is created in the Executive Office of the Governor the Office of Chief Inspector General. The Chief Inspector General is responsible for promoting accountability, integrity, and efficiency in the agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor. The Chief Inspector General shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. However, upon a change in Governors or reelection of the Governor, the Governor shall appoint, or may reappoint, a Chief Inspector General before adjournment sine die of the first regular session of the Legislature that convenes after such change in Governors or reelection of the Governor.
  (2) The Chief Inspector General shall:

  (a) Initiate, supervise, and coordinate investigations, recommend policies, and carry out other activities designed to deter, detect, prevent, and eradicate fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and misconduct in government.

  (b) Investigate, upon receipt of a complaint or for cause, any administrative action of any agency, the administration of which is under the direct supervision of the Governor, regardless of the finality of the administrative action.

  (c) Request such assistance and information as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Chief Inspector General.

  (d) Examine the records and reports of any agency the administration of which is under the direct supervision of the Governor.

  (e) Coordinate complaint-handling activities with agencies.

  (f) Coordinate the activities of the Whistle-blower’s Act pursuant to chapter 112 and maintain the whistle-blower’s hotline to receive complaints and information concerning the possible violation of law or administrative rules, mismanagement, fraud, waste, abuse of authority, malfeasance, or a substantial or specific danger to the health, welfare, or safety of the public.

  (g) Report expeditiously to and cooperate fully with the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Legal Affairs, and other law enforcement agencies when there are recognizable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of criminal law or that a civil action should be initiated.

  (h) Act as liaison with outside agencies and the Federal Government to promote accountability, integrity, and efficiency in state government.

  (i) Act as liaison and monitor the activities of the inspectors general in the agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction.

  (j) Review, evaluate, and monitor the policies, practices, and operations of the Executive Office of the Governor.

  (k) Conduct special investigations and management reviews at the request of the Governor.
  (3) Related to public-private partnerships, the Chief Inspector General:

  (a) Shall advise public-private partnerships, including Enterprise Florida, Inc., in their development, utilization, and improvement of internal control measures necessary to ensure fiscal accountability.

  (b) May conduct, direct, and supervise audits relating to the programs and operations of public-private partnerships.

  (c) Shall receive and investigate complaints of fraud, abuses, and deficiencies relating to programs and operations of public-private partnerships.

  (d) May request and have access to any records, data, and other information in the possession of public-private partnerships which the Chief Inspector General deems necessary to carry out his or her responsibilities with respect to accountability.

  (e) Shall monitor public-private partnerships for compliance with the terms and conditions of contracts with the department and report noncompliance to the Governor.

  (f) Shall advise public-private partnerships in the development, utilization, and improvement of performance measures for the evaluation of their operations.

  (g) Shall review and make recommendations for improvements in the actions taken by public-private partnerships to meet performance standards.
  (4) The Chief Inspector General shall serve as the inspector general for the Executive Office of the Governor.
  (5) In exercising authority under this section, the Chief Inspector General or his or her designee may:

  (a) Hire or retain legal counsel.

  (b) Issue and serve subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum, for agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor, to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, and other data in any medium.

  (c) Require or permit a person to file a statement in writing, under oath or otherwise, as to all the facts and circumstances concerning the matter to be audited, examined, or investigated.

  In the event of noncompliance with a subpoena issued pursuant to this subsection, the Chief Inspector General may petition the circuit court of the county in which the person subpoenaed resides or has his or her principal place of business for an order requiring the subpoenaed person to appear and testify and to produce documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, or other data as specified in the subpoena.

History.-s. 9, ch. 94-235; s. 14, ch. 2011-142; s. 1, ch. 2014-144; s. 2, ch. 2015-173.

History.-s. 9, ch. 94-235; s. 14, ch. 2011-142; s. 1, ch. 2014-144; s. 2, ch. 2015-173.