March 26, 2012
Members present:
| Representative Michael Beard | Senator James Metzen |
| Representative Sondra Erickson | Senator Roger Reinert |
| Representative Rick Hansen | Senator Ann H. Rest |
| Representative Mary Liz Holberg | Senator Claire Robling |
| Representative Phyllis Kahn | |
| Representative Steve Simon |
Members absent:
| Senator David Hann |
| Senator Mike Parry |
Representative Michael Beard, Chair, called the Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) meeting to order at 9:33 a.m. Representative Beard said the purpose of the meeting was to approve evaluation topics for 2012.
Representative Beard asked Senator Reinert to give an overview of the topics selected. Senator Reinert briefly explained the Topic Selection Subcommittee’s topic selection process and the topics recommended for evaluation by the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). Mr. Nobles explained his authority to complete special reviews without being directed by the LAC. In response to Representative Beard, Mr. Nobles said that a special review of the Minnesota Petrofund would not be indefinitely delayed; however, he was not sure how quickly OLA would be able to complete it and that he would be participating in the review himself.
Senator Reinert moved the subcommittee’s motion that the following list of topics be approved:Conservation Easements
Law Enforcement Databases
Medical Assistance Payment Rates for Dental Services
Special Education
State-Operated Services
School Trust Lands
Environmental Regulation through Administrative Rulemaking
Minnesota Petrofund (as a special review)
The motion prevailed.
The meeting moved to a discussion about a letter from the Sunset Advisory Commission requesting an OLA evaluation of the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. Senator Reinert made a motion for OLA to prepare a scoping document for an evaluation of the board. Mr. Nobles explained that the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission is to help make decisions on boards and commissions that are about to expire in statute. He also noted that the Sunset Commission followed the law by requesting a scoping document be completed by OLA. He further clarified that this motion does not authorize or require OLA to complete a full evaluation on the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. Mr. Nobles also said that based on the information he had received, he may still use his authority to complete a special investigation on the board even if the LAC does not pass this motion. After much deliberation, the motion failed.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:39 a.m.
Representative Michael Beard, Chair
Shelly Watterud, Recording Secretary
