CS for CS for SB 686 - Government Accountability

• Establishes internal controls requirements for state agencies, local governments, schools, and universities designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse while promoting compliance with laws and ensuring financial record reliability.

• Expands audit authority of the Auditor General to include tourist development councils and county tourism promotion agencies, and increases the state single audit threshold from $500,000 to $750,000 in state financial assistance.

• Restricts legislators and candidates from accepting employment with private entities receiving state appropriations unless the position was pre-existing and open to other applicants, and prohibits officers of Department of Economic Opportunity corporate entities from representing clients before those entities for 2-10 years after service.

• Requires municipal officers to file full and public financial disclosures, mandates counties and municipalities post budget documents on websites for specified periods, and strengthens audit committee requirements including prohibiting employees and CFOs from serving on audit committees.

• Amends criminal statutes regarding bribery, official misconduct, bid tampering, and unlawful compensation by replacing "corrupt intent" with "knowingly and intentionally" and extending applicability to public contractors assisting governmental entities.