(a) The Inspector General shall review policies, practices, and procedures and conduct audits and investigations of activities involving state transportation funds administered by the department in consultation with all affected units and programs of the department and external entities.

(b) The Independent Office of Audits and Investigations shall have access and authority to examine all records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, or other property of the department and external entities that receive state and federal transportation funds from the department. The Independent Office of Audits and Investigations may enter any public office or institution in this state and access, examine, and reproduce during regular business hours all records, files, documents, accounts, reports, vouchers, correspondence files, and all other records for any audit or investigation. Any officer or employee of any agency or entity having these records or property in their possession, under their control, or otherwise having access to them, shall permit access to, and examination and reproduction thereof, upon the request of the Inspector General or the Inspector General’s authorized representative.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 32, Sec. 4. (SB 87) Effective June 27, 2019.)