Office of the Transportation Inspector General.

Existing law creates the Department of Transportation within the Transportation Agency and creates the Independent Office of Audits and Investigations within the department, with specified powers and duties. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint the director of the office for a 6-year term, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and provides that the director, known as the Inspector General, may not be removed from office during the term except for good cause. Existing law specifies the duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General with respect to the department and local agencies receiving state and federal transportation funds through the department, and requires an annual report to the Legislature and Governor. This bill would eliminate the Independent Office of Audits and Investigations and would instead create the Independent Office of the Transportation Inspector General in state government, as an independent office that would not be a subdivision of any other government entity, to ensure that specified state agencies and all external entities that receive state and federal transportation funds are operating efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with federal and state laws. The bill would require the Governor to appoint the Transportation Inspector General for a 4-year term, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and would prohibit the Transportation Inspector General from being removed from office during the term except for good cause. The bill would specify the duties and responsibilities of the Transportation Inspector General and set the salary of the Transportation Inspector General. The bill would require the Transportation Inspector General to submit an annual report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the California Transportation Commission.