North Carolina General Statutes 147-64.4. Definitions
The following definitions apply in this Article:
(1) Recodified as subdivision (2a) of this section by Session Laws 2021-112, s. 2(a).
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 147-64.4
- Allegation: something that someone says happened.
- Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
(2) Accounting system or system of accounting. – The total structure of records and procedures that discover, record, classify, and report information on the financial position and operating results of a State agency or any of its funds, balanced account groups, and organizational components.
(2a) Audit. – An independent review or examination of State agency organizations, programs, activities, and functions. The purpose of an audit is to help ensure full accountability and assist State agency officials and employees in carrying out their responsibilities. The elements of an audit are as follows:
a. Financial and compliance: to determine whether financial operations are properly conducted, whether the financial reports of a State agency are presented fairly, and whether the State agency has complied with applicable laws.
b. Economy and efficiency: to determine whether the State agency is managing or utilizing its resources (such as personnel and property) in an economical and efficient manner and the causes of any inefficiencies or uneconomical practices, including inadequacies in laws, management information systems, administrative policies and procedures, or organizational structures.
c. Program results: to determine whether the desired results or benefits are being achieved, whether the objectives established by the General Assembly or another authorizing body are being met, and whether the State agency has considered alternatives that might yield desired results at lower costs.
d. An audit may include all three elements or only one or two. It is not intended or desirable that every audit include all three. Economy and efficiency and program result audits should be selected when their use will meet the needs of expected users of audit results.
(3) Federal agency. – Any department, agency, or instrumentality of the federal government and any federally owned or controlled corporation.
(3a) Investigation. – An independent review or examination of an allegation of an improper governmental activity regarding a State agency organization, program, activity, or function. The purpose of an investigation is to help ensure full accountability and assist State agency officials and employees in carrying out their responsibilities.
(4) State agency. – Any department, political subdivision, institution, board, commission, committee, division, bureau, officer, official or any other entity for which the State has oversight responsibility, including but not limited to, any university, mental or specialty hospital, community college, or clerk of court. (1983, c. 913, s. 2; 1987, c. 564, s. 31; 2021-112, s. 2(a), (b).)