Delaware House Passes Legislation to Enhance State Auditor’s Power
The Delaware House recently passed House Bill 6, a piece of legislation that would grant the State Auditor more authority by allowing them to issue subpoenas directly without involving the Superior Court. The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Osienski, aims to give the auditor the same authority as other state agencies such as the Department of Insurance and the Department of Labor.
This move comes after the State Auditor’s Office released its first Dual Employment Audit since 2017, which found that several state agencies do not have sufficient records of coincident time for employees holding multiple tax-funded jobs. The audit also highlighted instances where state employees, including legislators and members of the governor’s administration, were double-dipping with tax-funded compensation.
In addition to HB 6, State Rep. Kim Williams has introduced two pieces of legislation to address issues raised in the audit. House Bill 9 requires elected or appointed officials who hold multiple state positions to disclose their dual employment to the Public Integrity Commission, while House Bill 38 clarifies the application of the Dual Employment Law to public higher education institutions receiving state funding.
Both bills are awaiting committee hearings in the House, but Williams is confident about garnering support for the legislation in both chambers. State Auditor Lydia York believes these bills will promote transparency and accountability within state government, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that taxpayers’ money is being used appropriately.
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