SB83 By Senator Jones RFD Governmental Affairs Rd 1 04-FEB-20

SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, the Office of State Auditor is charged with certain responsibilities and duties including maintaining the property inventory of state property. The State Auditor also makes an appointment to each county board of registrars. The primary audit of expenditures of state government is performed by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

This bill would propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to abolish the Office of State Auditor and transfer the duties and responsibilities of the office to the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. The amendment would also transfer the duty of the State Auditor to make an appointment to each local board of registrars to the Lieutenant Governor.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

To propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to abolish the Office of State Auditor and transfer the duties and responsibilities of the office to the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts; and to transfer the duty of the State Auditor to make an appointment to each local board of registrars to the Lieutenant Governor.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, is proposed and shall become valid as a part thereof when approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon and in accordance with Sections 284, 285, and 287 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The Office of State Auditor shall be abolished upon the expiration of the current term of office. No person shall be installed in office as State Auditor for any term commencing after the expiration of the current term of office. After the expiration of the current term of office, any reference to State Auditor in the this Constitution, any amendment thereto, or any other law, rule, or regulation shall be deemed to be a reference to the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, except for the reference in Section 17-3-2, Code of Alabama 1975. Upon the abolishment of the Office of State Auditor, the functions, duties, and responsibilities for which the State Auditor was previously responsible shall be performed by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. The requirement that the State Auditor appoint a member to each county board of registrars pursuant to Section 17-3-2, Code of Alabama 1975, shall be transferred to the Lieutenant Governor.

Section 2. An election upon the proposed amendment shall be held in accordance with Sections 284 and 285 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, and the election laws of this state.

Section 3. The appropriate election official shall assign a ballot number for the proposed constitutional amendment on the election ballot and shall set forth the following description of the substance or subject matter of the proposed constitutional amendment:

"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to abolish the Office of State Auditor and transfer the duties and responsibilities of the office to the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and to transfer the duty of the State Auditor to appoint a member to each county board of registrars to the Lieutenant Governor.

"Proposed by Act ________."

This description shall be followed by the following language:

"Yes ( ) No ( )."

Constitutional Amendments

Elections

State Auditor

Examiners of Public Accounts Department