Section 16-13A-2 Financial Oversight by State Superintendent of Education; Appointment and Duties of Chief Education Financial Officer; Internal Audits of Schools and School Systems.

(a) The State Superintendent of Education shall oversee the financial integrity of the various local boards of education and shall appoint a Chief Education Financial Officer who shall be an employee of the State Department of Education. The Chief Education Financial Officer shall be a certified public accountant or have equivalent experience as determined by the State Superintendent of Education, shall have experience in educational or governmental finance, shall complete the instructional program provided in Section 16-13A-3 within the later of six months of its introduction or six months of appointment, and shall have passed the mandated competency test provided in Section 16-13A-3 within the later of six months of its adoption or six months of appointment. The Chief Education Financial Officer shall oversee the collection and analysis of the reports required by Section 16-13A-6, shall make reports of the financial integrity of the various local boards of education, shall assist school systems whose financial position is deteriorating, and shall make other reports as deemed necessary or as required by law. (b) The State Superintendent of Education may employ a sufficient number of persons to analyze internal audits of the various local boards of education and schools within the limits of available funding. Internal auditors shall possess a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and experience in educational or governmental finance. (c) Contracts and employments entered into with funds available to the State Department of Education pursuant to this chapter shall reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state. A report shall be made annually to the Legislature detailing the extent to which this subsection has been implemented.