Annual audit of financial records and reports.

(1) The Legislative Auditing Committee shall contract with a certified public accountant licensed pursuant to chapter 473 for an annual financial audit of the department. The certified public accountant shall have no financial interest in any vendor with whom the department is under contract. The certified public accountant shall present an audit report no later than 7 months after the end of the fiscal year and shall make recommendations to enhance the earning capability of the state lottery and to improve the efficiency of department operations. The certified public accountant shall also perform a study and evaluation of internal accounting controls and shall express an opinion on those controls in effect during the audit period. The cost of the annual financial audit shall be paid by the department.

(2) The Auditor General may at any time conduct an audit of any phase of the operations of the state lottery and shall receive a copy of the yearly independent financial audit and any security report prepared pursuant to s. 24.108.

(3) A copy of any audit performed pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the secretary, the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and members of the Legislative Auditing Committee.