(A) There is hereby established the Office of the State Inspector General that consists of the State Inspector General, who is the director of the office, and a staff of deputy inspectors general, investigators, auditors, and clerical employees employed by the State Inspector General as necessary to carry out the duties of the State Inspector General and as are authorized by law. The State Inspector General shall fix the salaries of all staff subject to the funds authorized in the annual general appropriation act.

(B) The State Inspector General is responsible for investigating and addressing allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, violations of state or federal law, and wrongdoing in agencies.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 1-6-20

  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Wrongdoing: means action by an agency which results in substantial abuse, misuse, destruction, or loss of substantial public funds or public resources. See South Carolina Code 1-6-10

(C) The Governor shall appoint the State Inspector General with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of four years. A Governor may reappoint the State Inspector General for additional terms. The State Inspector General’s compensation must not be reduced during the State Inspector General’s uninterrupted continued tenure in office.

(D) The State Inspector General:

(1) may be removed from office only by the Governor as provided in § 1-3-240(C);

(2) must be selected without regard to political affiliation and on the basis of integrity, capability for strong leadership, and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, investigation, or criminal justice administration or other closely related fields;

(3) is entitled to receive compensation set by the Governor and approved by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority.

(E) Upon request of the State Inspector General for information or assistance, all agencies are directed to fully cooperate with and furnish the State Inspector General with all documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, papers, and other necessary data and documentary information to perform the mission of the State Inspector General.

(F) Except for information declared confidential under this chapter, records of the Office of the State Inspector General are subject to public inspection under Chapter 4 of Title 30.

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