Charter

I. Subject

Charter of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

II. Purpose

The purpose for the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General is to provide for an independent and objective unit reporting directly to the Board of Directors:

1. to conduct and supervise audits, reviews and analyses relating to the programs, operations, and contracts of Metro, excluding internal audits directed by the CEO;

 

2. to receive and investigate complaints from any source or proactively concerning alleged fraud, waste, and abuse of Metro resources;

 

3. to provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies or remedial actions to be taken to correct deficiencies and promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness;

 

4. to detect, investigate, deter, and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in Metro programs and operations;

 

5. to provide the Metro Board of Directors and management with independent analyses, evaluations, and appraisals of performance effectiveness, accuracy of information systems, economic and efficient utilization of resources, and adequacy of internal controls;

 

6. to report quarterly on the expenditures of Metro for travel, meals and refreshments, private club dues, membership fees and other charges, and any other expenditures which are specified by the Metro Board;

 

7. to keep the Metro Board of Directors and management informed of issues and deficiencies relating to compliance with applicable policies, procedures, Federal and State laws, regulations and grants, and the need and status of any appropriate corrective action.

III. Appointment of Inspector General Staff

The Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable Human Resources policies, appoint such staff as is required to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the OIG.

IV. Authority of the Inspector General

The Inspector General is authorized:

1. to have full, free, and unrestricted access to all Metro records, reports, audits, reviews, plans, projections, documents, files, contracts, memoranda, correspondence, data, or information on audio/video/computer tape/disk, or other materials of Metro;

 

2. to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths or affirmations, take testimony and compel the production of such books, papers, records and documents as may be deemed relevant to any inquiry or investigation undertaken;

 

3. to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the OIG;

 

4. to the extent, and in such amounts as may be approved by the Metro Board, pursuant to the rules, regulations, and applicable procurement policies, to enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits, investigations, studies, analyses, and other services with public agencies and with private persons to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the OIG;

 

5. to have direct and prompt access to any Metro Board member, officer, employee, or contractor as may be necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the OIG;

 

6. to make available to appropriate law enforcement officials information and evidence which relate to criminal acts that may be obtained in the course of OIG duties.

V. Complaints by Employees, Disclosure of Identity, Reprisals

1. The Inspector General may receive and investigate complaints or information from any sources, including any employees of Metro, or Metro contractors, concerning the possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of law, rules or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety.

 

 

2. The Inspector General shall not disclose the identity of an employee, without the consent of the employee, from whom a complaint or information has been received, unless such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation.

 

3. Any employee who complains or discloses information to the Inspector General, shall not be subjected to any reprisal, or threat of reprisal, unless the complaint was made or the information disclosed with the knowledge that it was false, or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity.

VI. Duties and Responsibilities of the Inspector General

1. In addition to the responsibilities listed in Section II, it shall be the responsibility of the Inspector General:

a. to provide policy direction for, and to conduct, supervise, and coordinate, audits, reviews, and investigations relating to the programs and operations of Metro;

b. to report quarterly on the expenditures of Metro as set forth in section 130051.9 of the California Public Utilities Code;

c. to report expeditiously to the District Attorney, Attorney General, United States Attorney or other appropriate prosecutive and investigative agencies whenever the Inspector General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of criminal law;

d. to submit criminal justice statistics, and coordinate as necessary, on criminal matters with the Metro Police Department.

2. In carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the OIG, the Inspector General shall: a. comply with the standards set forth in the Government Auditing Standards promulgated by the Comptroller General of the United States; b. establish such other standards or guidelines as are considered necessary.

 

3. The Inspector General shall cooperate, consult and coordinate, as necessary, on safety issues with the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and local police jurisdictions.