2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 35 - Public Finance
CHAPTER 35-14 - Financial Integrity and Accountability
§ 35-14-2 - Policy.

SECTION 35-14-2

   § 35-14-2  Policy. – (a) The legislature hereby finds that:

   (1) Fraud and errors in state programs are more likely to occur from a lack of effective systems of internal accounting and administrative control in the state agencies;

   (2) Effective systems of internal accounting and administrative control provide the basic foundation upon which a structure of public accountability must be built;

   (3) Effective systems of internal accounting and administrative control are necessary to assure that state assets and funds are adequately safeguarded, as well as to produce reliable financial information for the state;

   (4) Systems of internal accounting and administrative control are necessarily dynamic and must be continuously evaluated and, where necessary, improved; and

   (5) Reports regarding the adequacy of the system of internal accounting and administrative control of each state agency are necessary to enable the executive branch, the legislature, and the public to evaluate the agency's performance of its public responsibilities and accountability.

   (b) The legislature declares that:

   (1) Each state agency must maintain effective systems of internal accounting and administrative control as an integral part of its management practices;

   (2) The systems of internal accounting and administrative control of each state agency shall be evaluated on an ongoing basis and, when detected, weaknesses must be promptly corrected; and

   (3) All levels of management of the state agencies must be involved in assessing and strengthening the systems of internal accounting and administrative control to minimize fraud, errors, abuse, and waste of government funds.