HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

79

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE Department of Education.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Department of Education has the largest number of employees of our State's departments; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department is mainly funded with State General funds; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department's General Fund budget is $2,268,810,351 for FY2023, with a total budget of $2,641,485,725; and

 

     WHEREAS, increased fiscal responsibility is required on the part of the Department of Education for students to receive high quality education for a reasonable cost; and

 

     WHEREAS, the term "forensic audit" refers to an investigative audit in which accountants specialized in investigative accounting seek to uncover frauds, misplaced or misused funds, and financial negligence; and

 

     WHEREAS, various government agencies have specialized forensic accounting departments to detect economic damages or fraud against the agency; and

 

     WHEREAS, conducting a forensic audit of the Department of Education could reveal misplaced funds, misused funds, and negligent spending and produce a more fiscally responsible Department and educational system; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a forensic audit of the Department of Education to determine financial fraud, misplaced or misused funds, and financial negligence; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of the Auditor is requested to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, Chairperson of the Board of Education, and Superintendent of the Department of Education.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Requesting the Auditor to conduct a Forensic Audit of the Department of Education