2001 NLPES Award Recipients

Excellence in Research Methods Award
Excellence in Evaluation Award
Outstanding Achievement Award
Impact Award

NLPES Excellence in Research Methods Award

The 2001 NLPES Excellence in Research Methods Award is presented to Virginia's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Philip A. Leone, Director.

The committee found that Virginia's report, "The Costs of Raising Children," met the award criteria for exemplary research methods and was most deserving of this year's award. This study was required by the 2000 Virginia General Assembly. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate how existing data could be used to estimate household expenditures on children, and how these estimates could be used to evaluate current child support guidelines or to help determine new, alternative child support guidelines.

Ths study successfully addressed problems with Virginia's current guidelines using a sound innovative methodology. JLARC staff used regression modeling in three ways that are different from past studies of expenditures on children. The study recommended that policy makers consider two options, or some combination of the two, in assessing child support. JLARC staff also summarized the advantages and disadvantages associated with the two options.

The Virginia Department of Social Services stated "the report provides a very good basis for the Secretary's 2001 guideline panel to develop a revised guidelines schedule for consideration in the 2002 General Assembly session." Furthermore, child support experts from other states have expressed interest in adopting the approach developed in this study as well. NLPES congratulates Virginia for a job well done and for its contributions to the field of legislative program evaluation.

Contact:

Philip A. Leone, Director
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
Suite 100, General Assembly Building, Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 786-1258

NLPES Excellence in Evaluation Award

The 2001 NLPES Excellence in Evaluation Award is presented to Utah's Office of the Legislative Auditor General, Wayne L. Welsh, Legislative Auditor General.

Utah's submission met the award criteria by meeting a legislative need, communicating quickly and clearly, and projecting credibility and professionalism. The submission also included some unique material that could serve as a prototype for other NLPES offices to use in improving services to their legislatures and state agencies. Specifically, the Office developed a booklet entitled, "Best Practices for Good Management," that was meant to serve as a guideline for state agencies to use in improving their planning, management, and performance measurement processes. It is aimed at helping managers of new programs set up sound core management processes but could easily be used by managers of existing programs who are looking to make improvements in these areas. The booklet was developed in response to a legislative mandate that added proactive efforts to the Office's traditional auditing responsibilities. The booklet was well-received by the legislator who sponsored the bill.

Utah's submission also included two recent audit reports. Both reports dealt with sensitive, "hot" topics. One is an example of the Office's traditional audit report and the other is an example of what the Office calls a "formal letter report." The latter reporting format is used for smaller audits that cover only a few issues. The traditional audit report was entitled, "Performance Audit of Tourism Promotion Funding in Utah." This report was both informative and timely, given Utah's participation as a site for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The formal letter report was entitled, "Adoption Time Requirements," and was a response to the concerns of foster parents who expressed frustration with delays in the State's adoption process. Both audit reports were well-received by the legislature and the public. In addition, the tourism promotion report served as the basis for legislation passed in the 2001 Legislative Session and the adoption time requirements report served as a catalyst for Utah's juvenile courts to begin standardization and other improvements in the state's adoption process.

NLPES congratulates Utah for its service to the Utah legislature and its many contributions to the field of legislative program evaluation.

Contact:

Wayne L. Welsh, Legislative Auditor General
Office of the Legislative Auditor General
130 State Capitol, P.O. Box 140151
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-0151
(801) 538-1033

NLPES Outstanding Achievement Award

The 2001 NLPES Outstanding Achievement Award is presented to Mary Noble, State Auditor, Retired, Bureau of State Audits, California.

The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society recognizes Mary Noble for her contributions and service to legislative program evaluation and the staff section. Mary served as California State Auditor from January to August 2000. Previously she was the Deputy State Auditor starting in 1993 when the office was reconstituted. From 1980 to 1993, she was the Deputy Auditor General for Performance Audits at the California Office of the Auditor General.

Mary was instrumental in assisting the Bureau's return to the prominence enjoyed by its predecessor Office of the Auditor General. The Bureau received the NLPES Award for Excellence in 1998. From 1980 until her retirement in November 2000, Mary was an active participant in NLPES. She served on the NLPES Executive Committee for three terms and served as Chair in 1997-1998. Mary was a presenter and panel member at numerous national conferences and fall training programs. She also organized the NLPES Fall Training Conference held in Sacramento, California, in 1998. Mary received a proclamation from the California State Assembly in 2000 for her leadership of the Bureau of State Audits.

NLPES wishes Mary well and commends her for the many contributions she has made to legislative program evaluation.