About the Independent Office of Audits and Investigations

Background

Road Repair and Accountability Act 

The Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) (Beall, Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017), also known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act,  created the Independent Office of Audits and Investigations (IOAI) and the position of Inspector General to ensure the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and external entities that receive state and federal transportation funds from Caltrans are spending those funds efficiently, effectively, economically, and in compliance with applicable state and federal requirements. External entities include, but are not limited to, private for profit and nonprofit organizations, local transportation agencies, and other local agencies that receive transportation funds either through a contract with Caltrans or through an agreement or grant administered by Caltrans.

Additionally, following the passage of SB 1, SB 103 (Chapter 95, Statutes of 2017) was approved in July 2017 and requires Caltrans to undertake several activities to increase procurement opportunities for small/micro enterprises, disabled veteran-owned, and new and limited contracting small businesses, as well as underrepresented, disadvantaged, formerly incarcerated, and LGBTQ business enterprises or individuals. SB 103 directs the Inspector General to review, audit, and report on Caltrans’ outreach efforts required by this section. In addition, the Inspector General shall audit businesses as appropriate to ensure that persons associated with entities that do not meet the definition of a new or limited contracting small business enterprise do not create a new associated entity that would meet the definition of new or limited contracting small business enterprise and thus subvert the purposes of this section.

Organization Chart

This is the Organization Chart for the IOAI. Diana Antony, Acting Inspector General. Frances Parmelee, Action Chief Deputy Inspector General. Audit Chiefs. Finance and Operations, Juanita Baier. Project Delivery, David Wang (Acting). Planning and Modal, Fabiola Torres. Investigations, Nicole Hernandez (Acting). Administration, Marie Salvacion,

 

IOAI Activities

Pursuant to SB 1, IOAI provides a full scope, independent, and objective audit and investigation program. 

Communication Strategies

In addition to an annual report, SB 1 requires the Inspector General to report all audit and confidential investigation findings to the Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and to the Director and Chief Deputy Director of Caltrans on a regular and ongoing basis.

Peer Review

In 2021, the California Association of State Auditors completed a peer review of the IOAI.