2002 NLPES-Fall Training Conference Notes
NLPES Panel: Legislative Perspectives on Audits and Evaluations
Moderator, Heather Moritz, Colorado, Thursday, September 19, 3:30-5:00PM
Panelists: Senators Ben Altamirano and Pete Campos, New Mexico Legislature
Senator Tom Smith and Representative Roberta Voss, Arizona Legislature
The panelists responded to questions regarding a successful relationship between auditors and the Legislature. The following is a summary of their responses.
Factors for successful audit process
- Leadership by top audit management
- Clear and succinct reports that are not written in technical language. Textboxes and sidebar comments as well as summary. Make reports available to legislators and public electronically.
- Followup process to determine if audit recommendations were implemented.
Educate agencies regarding auditor's role in followup process and ensure members of legislature understand the process.
- Objectivity as key to a successful audit.
|Independence on the part of auditors, unaffected by electoral changes.
Steps contributing to successful auditor/legislature relationship
- Effective orientation or training on role of auditor general. This process has become more important due to term limits.
- An expectation that auditors will leave political issues such as decisions on funding in hands of elected leaders.
- Clear legislative presentations that use qualitative examples as well as quantitative data.
- Be aware of legislative audit committee members' likes and dislikes.
- Communicate with legislative audit committee chairs.
 2002
Fall Training Conference Notes
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