State
of New Jersey
Executive
Order #7
Acting Governor
Richard J. Codey
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey expends more than $28 billion in taxpayer
money each year, and agencies at other levels of government spend billions
more; and
WHEREAS, it is fundamental that all government officials must be publicly
accountable for such expenditures; and
WHEREAS, promoting integrity in the administration and operations of
government and improving public accountability will be cornerstones of
my Administration; and
WHEREAS, one of the immediate remedial actions that can be taken to
improve such accountability is to identify areas where State spending
is wasteful or inefficient; and
WHEREAS, as Acting Governor, I have a 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;
and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 52:27B-31 and -26 empower the Governor to guard against
extravagance, waste or fiscal mismanagement in the administration of any
State appropriations; and
WHEREAS, 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 government's fiscal
resources that have been entrusted to their care by the taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, there is a compelling need to centralize the responsibility
for reviewing, auditing, evaluating and overseeing the expenditure of
State funds by and the procurement process of all State departments and
agencies, independent authorities, county and municipal governments, boards
of education, and private entities and individuals who receive State grant
funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting Governor of the State of
New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
- There is hereby created an Office of the Inspector General, which
shall be headed by the Inspector General.
- The Inspector General shall be appointed by and shall report directly
to the Governor. The Inspector General shall serve for the term of
the Governor, and until his successor is appointed and has qualified,
unless a longer term of office is established by the Legislature.
During said term of office, the Inspector general shall be removable
by the Governor for cause.
- The Inspector General shall be precluded from being a candidate
for or holding elected office for a period of two years following
that individual's service as Inspector General.
- The Inspector General is authorized to establish a full-time program
of audit, investigation and performance review designed to provide
increased accountability, integrity and oversight of all recipients
of State funds, including, but not limited to all State departments
and agencies, independent authorities, county and municipal governments
and boards of education. The Inspector General is granted all necessary
powers to carry out this task, including the power to conduct investigations,
audits, evaluations, inspections and other reviews in accordance with
professional standards relating to such investigations and audits
in government environments.
- The Inspector General is further authorized to investigate the
performance of governmental officers, employees, appointees, functions
and programs in order to promote efficiency, to identify cost savings,
and to detect and prevent misconduct within the programs and operations
of any governmental agency funded by or disbursing State funds.
- The Inspector General shall establish the internal organization
structure appropriate to carrying out the responsibilities and functions
of the Office. The Inspector General shall have the power to appoint,
employ, promote and remove such assistants, employees and personnel
as deemed necessary for the efficient and effective administration
of the Office. Within budget limitations, the Inspector General may
obtain the services of Certified Public Accountants, qualified management
consultants and other professionals necessary to independently perform
the functions of the Office.
- The State Treasurer is hereby directed to identify, from among
existing resources, sufficient funds necessary to properly staff and
operate the Office of Inspector General and to make such funds available
to the Inspector General.
- The Inspector General is authorized to receive and investigate
complaints concerning alleged fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement
of State funds. The Inspector General shall refer complaints alleging
criminal conduct to the Attorney General or other appropriate prosecutorial
authority. The Inspector General is further authorized to cooperate
and conduct joint investigations with other oversight or law enforcement
authorities.
- The Inspector General shall report the findings of such audits
or investigations performed by the Office and to issue recommendations
for corrective or remedial action to the Governor and to the entity
at issue. The Inspector General shall further monitor the implementation
of those recommendations. The Inspector General may also refer matters
for further civil, criminal and administrative action to the appropriate
authorities.
- The Inspector General shall provide periodic reports to the Governor
and shall issue a public annual report to the Governor and the Legislature.
- The Inspector General is authorized to call upon any department,
office or agency of State government to provide such information,
resources or other assistance deemed necessary to discharge the responsibilities
under this Order. Each department, officer, division and agency of
this State is required to cooperate with the Inspector General and
to furnish the Office with assistance necessary to accomplish the
purposes of this Order.
- This Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 29th day
of November in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand
and Four, and of the Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Ninth.
/s/ Richard J. Codey
Acting Governor
[seal]
Attest:
/s/ Paul T. Fader
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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