HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5541

BYSenators Halsan, Zimmerman and Moore

Removing cost restrictions for the annual audit of the liquor control board.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives H. Sommers, Chair; Peery, Vice Chair; Baugher, Chandler, Hankins, O'Brien, Sayan and Taylor.

House Staff:Pam Madson (786-7135)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 1, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The state constitution provides that all state agencies are subject to audit by the state auditor.  The appropriation process controls the costs of such audits.

For many years, the maximum dollar amount for auditing the Liquor Control Board has been specified in statute; the current lid, established in 1981, is $30,000.  The board is the only state agency with such a restriction in its statutes.

The state auditor requests that the $30,000 cost lid be removed.  That sum is no longer sufficient to allow for an adequate audit of the board because of inflationary pressures, increased costs of automated auditing systems, and new statutory auditing requirements such as the auditing of statewide financial statements.

SUMMARY:

The $30,000 cost lid on the State Auditor's annual audit of the State Liquor Control Board is removed.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.