2002 NLPES-Fall Training Conference Notes
Award Winning Reports
The Award Winning Reports session consisted of presentations from Kentucky, winner of the NLPES Excellence in Research Methods Award, and Wisconsin, winner of the Excellence in Evaluation Award.
The presentation began with Mike Clark, Ph. D., from the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, outlining a report analyzing Kentucky's prevailing wage laws. Kentucky's unique method of gathering information on the state's prevailing laws enabled the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission to develop new insight into the prevailing wage debate.
Kentucky prevailing wage laws are similar to federal Davis Bacon laws where contractors participating in certain federally funded projects are required to pay a minimum established wage. One of the primary focuses of the analysis was to determine whether Kentucky's prevailing wages had a significant impact on the cost of public construction. In developing their conclusions the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission surveyed a sample of contractors participating in prevailing wage and non-prevailing wage contracts. This was a method that had never been employed to evaluate the effects of government mandated minimum wages. As a result of the survey, the Commission was able to determine that substantial evidence existed to conclude that Kentucky's prevailing wage law increases the cost of public construction.
The second half of the presentation included a summary of several work products by the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau which helped the agency win the Excellence in Evaluation award. Kate Wade, Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau Program Evaluation Director, discussed three separate work products from the Audit Bureau.
The work products discussed included a series of reports and letters on welfare reform, an evaluation on the use of computer consultants in state government, and an evaluation of Wisconsin's involvement in the renovation of Lambeau Field Stadium, home of the Green Bay Packers. Kate then described the elements that made these work products recognizable. Kate outlined how each of the work products met the Excellence in Evaluation Award criteria of meeting the needs of the legislature, making an impact, assisting other NLPES offices, and communicating effectively. Kate then described what elements contributed to Wisconsin's award winning work products. Specifically, she identified the Audit Bureau's credibility with the legislature and the diverse backgrounds of staff members as necessary components for successful work products.  2002
Fall Training Conference Notes
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