A state agency or local public office may request that the auditor of state conduct a feasibility study to determine if greater efficiency or cost savings could be realized by the state agency or local public office sharing services or facilities with other state agencies or local public offices. In the request, the requesting state agency or local public office shall identify for the auditor of state the specific state agencies or local public offices that may be included within the proposed plan for sharing services or facilities.

The auditor of state shall provide written notification to each state agency and local public office that is identified in a request. The auditor of state may review only those identified state agencies or local public offices that do not opt out. To opt out, a state agency or local public office shall provide an opt out notice to the auditor of state within sixty days of the date on which the auditor's notification to the state agency or local public office is postmarked. If a state agency or local public office opts out of a requested feasibility study, the auditor of state, at the auditor's discretion, may cancel the feasibility study or may proceed to conduct the feasibility study considering only the identified state agencies and local public offices that have not opted out.

The auditing team that conducts performance audits shall conduct the feasibility study requested by a state agency or local public office as funds are allowed and available under section 117.47 of the Revised Code.

Not later than ten days before commencing a feasibility study requested under this section, the auditor of state shall provide written notice to the requesting state agency or local public office, and any other state agency or local public office that consented to being reviewed, of the date the study will be commenced.

The auditor of state shall pay the costs incurred by the auditor or the auditing team in conducting feasibility studies under this section.

Not later than one hundred eighty days after completing a feasibility study, the auditor of state shall conduct a public hearing on the feasibility study findings. Not later than ten days before the date of the public hearing, the auditor shall give notice of the date, time, and location of the public hearing in writing to the state agency or local public office that requested the feasibility study, to any other state agency or local public office that consented to being reviewed, and on the auditor's web site.

Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 5, §1, eff. 9/14/2016.