Office of the Legislative Auditor

Topic Selection Subcommittee
Legislative Audit Commission

Minutes

February 6, 2006

Members Present:

Representative Sondra Erickson	Senator Ann Rest
Representative Rick Hansen	Senator Claire Robling
Representative Tim Wilkin

Members Absent:

Senator Sheila Kiscaden

 

The Topic Selection Subcommittee of the Legislative Audit Commission meeting was called to order by Senator Claire Robling, Chair, at 3:10 p.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol.  Senator Robling pointed out that Senator Kiscaden was ill, so five of the six members were present; therefore, a quorum was present.

Senator Robling indicated the purpose of the meeting was to review the list of topics suggested by members of the Legislature.  She recognized James Nobles, Legislative Auditor.  Mr. Nobles explained the information in the members’ packets.  He introduced Deb Junod, who helped organize the list of topics and would help Mr. Nobles explain each one.

Mr. Nobles indicated that there were 56 topics on the list and the purpose of the meeting was for the subcommittee to select 10 to 12 for further consideration.  He reminded the subcommittee members that legislative staff would do a background paper on all topics chosen and an interest survey would be sent to all legislators.  Mr. Nobles and Ms. Junod mentioned each topic in broad terms one by one.  Representative Hansen suggested Mr. Nobles point out if any have been done more recently, as to not duplicate the topics. 

Senator Robling went through the categories and asked if there were topics that any member wanted to call out as ones to add to the main list.  After going through the entire list, the topics with the most interest were chosen. 

The topics selected by the subcommittee for further consideration included:

• Human Services Block Grants
• Cost of Hospital Charity Care for the Uninsured
• Update on MnCare and M.A. Eligibility Determinations
• State/County Administration of Human Service Programs
• Design Build Highway Construction
• Prevailing Wage Laws
• JOBZ Program
• Prison Population Projections
• Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco
• Watershed Management
• State Use of Nonprofit Organizations for Service Delivery
• Public Sector Post-Retirement Liabilities
• Volunteer Fire Relief Pension Plans
• Minnesota Historical Society

Representative Wilkin moved to have the 14 topics mentioned to be the list for further consideration.  Motion prevailed. 

Mr. Nobles again reminded the subcommittee that the OLA will do a background paper on all 14 topics and send out an interest survey to the Legislature.  The results should come back over the next several weeks from members, and the OLA will tally the results.  The background papers will then be brought to the subcommittee, and they will cut the list down to six or eight.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

Senator Claire Robling, Chair

Shelly Watterud, Recording Secretary