HOUSE BILL REPORT
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.
As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Affairs
Title: An act relating to performance audits.
Brief Description: Removing the performance audits provision.
Sponsors: Representative Hunter.
Brief History:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 2/27/07 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Green, Kretz, McDermott, Miloscia and Ormsby.
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 (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 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 Auditor. Part of the enacting
legislation also required the JLARC to conduct an audit of the performance audit program as
developed between the CAB and the Auditor.
In 2005, Initiative 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. Consequently, CAB has not developed a
performance audit program.
Summary of Bill:
The requirement that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee perform an 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.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The JLARC should not be required to conduct performance audits on things that
have not happened. Should the JLARC be required to go through that exercise, it would be
an $86,000 loss to the state. The JLARC would like to be relieved of this responsibility.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Hunter, prime sponsor.