HB485 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jamie KielRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

State Auditor; powers and duties revised; Division of Investigations created

Summary

HB485 would create a Division of Investigations in the State Auditor’s Office to investigate state property losses, require property managers to report losses, and enable civil action by the Attorney General for negligent losses.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates a Division of Investigations within the State Auditor’s Office to investigate loss, theft, or damage of state property and to require repayment for losses due to negligence. It authorizes the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover amounts for negligent losses and allows the State Auditor to refer matters with a reasonable belief of criminal violation to the Attorney General or district attorneys. It also imposes reporting and inventory requirements on property managers, with potential accountability measures for shortages, and sets up an adjustable threshold for what property must be inventoried.

Who It Affects

• State agency property managers and department heads who must inventory property, report losses within 30 days, maintain receipts, and may face payroll withholding or other accountability if shortages occur.
• The Attorney General, district attorneys, and state employees who handle or are alleged to be responsible for state property, who could face civil actions to recover losses or criminal referrals when negligence or violations are found.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Division of Investigations within the Office of the State Auditor to investigate loss, theft, or damage of state property and to seek repayment for property value due to negligence.
• Authorizes the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover amounts for negligent loss or damage of state property and allows the State Auditor to refer matters with a reasonable belief of criminal violation to the Attorney General or district attorneys.
• Requires property managers to report the loss or theft of inventoried property within 30 days, establishes inventory control procedures, and sets accountability measures (including potential withholding of a final salary and liability for shortages).
• Sets an initial threshold value for inventory at $500 and allows the State Auditor to adjust this threshold every four years based on CPI, with notice to agencies; includes biannual inventories and public reporting of losses; effective date October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

State & State Officers