| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee | |
HB 2311
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Removing the performance audits provision.
Sponsors: Representative Hunter.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/27/07
Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).
Background:
The Legislature created the Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) in 2005 to improve the efficiency,
effectiveness, and accountability of state government. The CAB's mandate was to work in
concert with the State Auditor and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC)
regarding performance audits of state government. The CAB was to establish the criteria for
performance audits; the State Auditor would then contract out for the actual work of
performance auditing. The JLARC's work plan would take precedence over performance audit
work plans developed by the CAB and the State Auditor (Auditor). Part of the enacting
legislation required also the JLARC to conduct an audit of the performance audit program as
developed between the CAB and the State Auditor.
In 2005, Initiative 900 (I-900) was also voted into law. Initiative 900 authorized the Auditor to
independently conduct comprehensive performance audits of all levels of Washington
government. As a result, the Auditor is not required to work with the CAB or to use the CAB's
criteria for a program of performance audits. The roles and responsibilities of the Auditor and
the CAB in relation to one another after I-900 are not clear.
Summary of Bill:
The requirement that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee perform and audit of the
joint performance audit program developed between the Citizen Advisory Board and the State
Auditor is removed from statute.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.