52:15B-1 Findings, declarations relative to an Office of the Inspector General.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

the State of New Jersey expends more than $28 billion in taxpayer funds each year, and agencies at other levels of government expend billions more;

it is fundamental that all government officials be publicly accountable for such expenditures;

promoting integrity in the administration and operations of government and improving public accountability are the cornerstones of government;

one of the remedial actions that can be taken to improve such accountability is to identify areas where State spending is wasteful or inefficient;

the Governor has the responsibility to ensure a balanced budget, manage the operations of State government effectively and efficiently, and maintain necessary government programs and assistance to the public;

it is the duty of the Governor to guard against extravagance, waste, or fiscal mismanagement in the administration of any State appropriation;

it is critically important that public officers and employees, at all levels of government, discharge their duties and responsibilities in a lawful and ethical manner, while conserving the fiscal resources that have been entrusted to the government's care by the taxpayers;

there is a compelling need to centralize the responsibility for investigating allegations of the improper discharge of these duties and responsibilities concerning the expenditure of State funds by, and the procurement process of, all State departments and agencies, independent authorities, county and municipal governments, and boards of education; and

there is a need, therefore, to create the Office of the Inspector General, which will report directly to the Governor, to ensure that these responsibilities are met.

L.2005, c.119, s.1; amended 2007, c.52, s.16.