(a) The board of directors of the authority shall cause an annual audit to be made of the books and records of the authority, including, but not limited to, the function of the pilot program established to support existing small business incubators in the region and to establish new small business incubators in accordance with § 64-10-223 [expired]. Within thirty (30) days after receipt by the authority, a copy of the annual audit shall be filed with the board, and if the department of audit has not prepared the audit, with the comptroller of the treasury or comptroller's designee. The comptroller of the treasury, through the department of audit, shall be responsible for determining that such audits are prepared in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and that such audits meet the minimum standards prescribed by the comptroller of the treasury. The comptroller of the treasury shall prepare a uniform audit manual as is required to assure that the books and records are kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that audit standards prescribed by the comptroller of the treasury are met.

(b) These audits shall be prepared by either certified public accountants or by the department of audit. In the event the governing body of the authority shall fail or refuse to have the audit prepared, then the comptroller of the treasury may appoint a certified public accountant or direct the department of audit to prepare the audit, the cost of such audit to be paid by the authority.

(c) The comptroller of the treasury is authorized to modify the requirements for an audit as set out in this section when the activity, in the comptroller of the treasury's judgment, is not sufficient to justify the expenses of a complete audit. Furthermore, the comptroller of the treasury is authorized to direct the department of audit to make an audit or financial review of the books and records of the authority.

(d) The current operating financial statements of the authority, and any other pertinent information as required by the comptroller, or the comptroller's designee, shall be submitted annually with the copy of the annual audit, or upon request, to the comptroller, or the comptroller's designee.

(e) The board shall submit an annual report to the finance, ways and means committee of the senate and the finance, ways and means committee of the house of representatives that details the function of the pilot program as created pursuant to § 64-10-223 [expired] and its support of small business incubators, including, but not be limited to, the amount of state appropriations received each fiscal year, the participants in the program and the program's effect on small businesses in the region.