(1) The Secretary of State shall designate one person employed by the Division of Audits of the Office of the Secretary of State to be responsible for reports of waste, inefficiency or abuse received through the Government Waste Hotline or received by the secretary through any other method. The person designated under this section shall log all reports received.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the identity of any person making a report under ORS 177.170 is confidential. A report of waste, inefficiency or abuse received under ORS 177.170 and any resulting investigation are confidential unless the Secretary of State finds that waste, inefficiency or abuse has occurred and reports these findings as provided under subsection (4) of this section. If the Secretary of State finds that waste, inefficiency or abuse has occurred, a report of waste, inefficiency or abuse and any resulting investigation are confidential until the investigation described in subsection (3) of this section is complete.
(3) The secretary shall conduct an initial investigation of each report of waste, inefficiency or abuse made under ORS 177.170. Following the initial investigation, the secretary shall determine which reports shall be investigated further and assign the investigation to audit staff qualified to conduct waste, inefficiency and abuse investigations. The secretary may audit any state agency if it appears that officers or employees of the agency, or persons under contract with the agency, are engaging in activities that constitute waste, inefficiency or abuse. Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section:
(a) If the secretary determines during the investigation that a violation of any provision of ORS chapter 244 may be occurring or may have occurred, the secretary shall notify the Oregon Government Ethics Commission of the potential violation; and
(b) If the secretary determines during the investigation that fraud or other criminal activity may be occurring or may have occurred, the secretary shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of the potential fraud or other criminal activity.
(4) Subject to the confidentiality requirements of subsection (2) of this section, upon completion of an investigation under this section:
(a) The secretary shall determine in writing whether officers or employees of a state agency, or persons under contract with a state agency, are engaging in activities that constitute waste, inefficiency or abuse. The written determination may include other information about the nature of the investigation or the secretary’s determination.
(b) If the secretary finds that waste, inefficiency or abuse has occurred, upon request of the person who made the report under ORS 177.170, the secretary shall provide the person with a copy of the determination and any other information included by the secretary.
(c) If the secretary determines that officers or employees of another state agency or public body, or persons under contract with a state agency or public body, are involved in activities that constitute waste, inefficiency or abuse, the secretary shall notify the state agency or public body of the determination and deliver a copy of the secretary’s findings to the agency or body.
(5) A written determination prepared by the secretary under this section is a public record.
(6) The secretary shall prepare an annual report and submit it to each regular session of the Legislative Assembly and to appropriate interim committees of the Legislative Assembly. The report shall describe the number, nature and resolution of reports made under ORS 177.170 and shall identify savings resulting from improved efficiencies or the elimination of waste or abuse resulting from reports received and investigations conducted under this section and ORS 177.170. The report shall also list the number and nature of any positive reports received relating to state agencies, state employees or persons under contract with state agencies. [1995 c.138 §2; 2007 c.185 §2]
Section: Previous 177.060 177.070 177.075 177.080 177.090 177.100 177.110 177.120 177.130 177.140 177.150 177.170 177.180 177.190 177.200 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008