Legislative Perspectives on Perfomance Auditing

NLPES Conference Notes

Legislative Roundtable - Legislative Perspectives on Performance Auditing
September 8, 2001

Moderators: Barb Hinton (Kansas) and Jeanne Jarrett (Missouri)
Participants:

Representative Lisa Benlon, Kansas
Senator Chris Steineger, Kansas
Don Prost, Former Legislator, Missouri

Ms. Hinton and Ms. Jarrett introduced legislators from their respective states. The introductions were followed by a roundtable discussion of various issues of concern to legislators. Below is a list of some of the questions posed to legislators and a summary of their answers.

How helpful are audits to legislators?

Audits are very useful tools, particularly for those legislators that have a vested interest in the program that is being evaluated. A good example of this is the foster care program's transition from a public to a private enterprise in Kansas. Because the transition was painful and complex, it was very helpful from a legislative point of view to have ongoing audits to provide information about the transition process. Ultimately, the audit process provided a public forum which helped bring people together from all sides of the issue.

What authority do legislative committees have to implement audit recommendations?

The Legislative Post Audit Committee in Kansas has full reign in this area. There is statutory authority to withhold state funds if information from the audited agency is not forthcoming. This has only been done once in Kansas, because the Committee has found that state agencies are generally willing to implement staff recommendations.

What additional things can staff do to make audits more useful to legislators?

It might be helpful to have audits available in a variety of formats other than the traditional print format. Audio or video tapes might be useful. For example, audits on audio tape might be particularly helpful to legislators that have long commutes between the capitol and their home districts. In addition, after the report is released, a briefing by staff of the audit findings to appropriate legislative committee chairs, vice chairs, and legislative staff, would be a quick way for legislators to get the information. Conference calls might also be a useful tool to provide legislators with audit information.

What are some tips for getting the appropriate information disseminated?

Providing information to lobbyists might be one way because they typically are quick to spread information. Staff responses to the media is another way, but they should have prepared statements that are open and honest. In Kansas, the Legislative Post Audit Committee has the responsibility to provide information to the media, but sometimes staff will provide information as well. For the most part, Kansas audit staff stay in the background in order to remain objective. It might be useful for the audit agency executive to take a more active role in spreading information. In Kansas, for example, the Post Auditor could initiate contact with other legislative committees to inform them that there may be important information in a particular audit for them to consider. This doesn't necessarily mean the Post Auditor is advocating certain issues, but instead is taking a greater "dissemination role."