1998 Florida Code
TITLE III LEGISLATIVE BRANCH; COMMISSIONS
Chapter 11 Legislative Organization, Procedures, And Staffing  
11.50   Division of Public Assistance Fraud.

11.50  Division of Public Assistance Fraud.--

(1)(a)  The Auditor General shall investigate, on his or her own initiative or when required by the Legislative Auditing Committee, public assistance made under the provisions of chapter 409 or chapter 414. In the course of such investigation the Auditor General shall examine all records, including electronic benefits transfer records and make inquiry of all persons who may have knowledge as to any irregularity incidental to the disbursement of public moneys, food stamps, or other items or benefits authorizations to recipients.

(b)  All public assistance recipients, as a condition precedent to qualification for assistance under the provisions of chapter 409 or chapter 414, shall first give in writing, to the Agency for Health Care Administration or the 1Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, as appropriate, and to the Division of Public Assistance Fraud, consent to make inquiry of past or present employers and records, financial or otherwise.

(2)  In the conduct of such investigation the Auditor General may employ persons having such qualifications as are useful in the performance of this duty, and those individuals shall be assigned to the Division of Public Assistance Fraud which is hereby created within the office of the Auditor General.

(3)  The results of such investigation shall be reported by the Auditor General to the Legislative Auditing Committee, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the 1Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, and to such others as the Legislative Auditing Committee or the Auditor General may determine.

(4)  The 1Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services shall report to the Auditor General the final disposition of all cases wherein action has been taken pursuant to s. 414.39, based upon information furnished by the Division of Public Assistance Fraud.

(5)  All lawful fees and expenses of officers and witnesses, expenses incident to taking testimony and transcripts of testimony and proceedings requested by the Legislative Auditing Committee or the Auditor General shall be a proper charge to the appropriation of the Auditor General. All payments for these purposes shall be on vouchers approved by the Auditor General.

(6)  The provisions of this section shall be liberally construed in order to carry out effectively the purposes of this section in the interest of protecting public moneys and other public property.

History.--s. 1, ch. 72-387; s. 1, ch. 77-147; s. 3, ch. 92-125; s. 23, ch. 95-147; s. 49, ch. 96-175.

1Note.--The Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services was redesignated as the Department of Children and Family Services by s. 5, ch. 96-403, and the Department of Health was created by s. 8, ch. 96-403.