July 31, 2013
Members present:
| Representative Rick Hansen, Chair | Senator Mary Kiffmeyer |
| Representative Mary Liz Holberg | Senator Warren Limmer |
Members absent:
| Representative Andrew Falk | Senator James Metzen |
Other Legislators Present:
| Representative Michael Beard | Senator Roger J. Reinert |
In the absence of the chair, Representative Holberg called the meeting of the Evaluation Subcommittee of the Legislative Audit Commission to order at 1:05 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to release the evaluation, State Employee Union Fair Share Fee Calculations.
Representative Holberg called on Jim Nobles, Legislative Auditor. Mr. Nobles explained that this evaluation is the first of ten to be released. He said the following evaluations would be forthcoming: 1) MnDOT Noise Barriers in early October; 2) Sustainable Forest Incentive Program in late October; 3) Agricultural Commodity Councils in mid-January; 4) Councils on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, Black Minnesotans, Chicano/Latino People, and Indian Affairs in late January; 5) Medical Services in State Correctional Facilities in early February; 6) MnDOT Pavement Selection Process in late February; 7) DNR Forest Management sometime after session; 8) Managed Care Organizations’ Administrative Costs sometime after session; and 9) Administration of Unclaimed Property sometime after session.
Mr. Nobles gave a brief summary of the evaluation and introduced Judy Randall, evaluation manager, to give more details. Ms. Randall provided an overview of the evaluation’s findings and recommendations. She noted that only one out of ten state employee unions did not comply with the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s (OLA) data request, which was the Minnesota Law Enforcement Association (MLEA). Since OLA was able to obtain most of the information it needed through other means, it was decided to not use OLA’s authority to subpoena the information from MLEA. However, all members present agreed that a letter from the full Legislative Audit Commission should be sent to MLEA addressing its noncompliance with OLA’s data request.
Representative Hansen invited representatives from the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget (MMB) and the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) to address the subcommittee. Carolyn Trevis, Acting Assistant Commissioner, MMB, said her agency agreed with the report. Josh Tilson, Commissioner, BMS, agreed that the guidelines on chargeable union activities need to be updated. He also said that since BMS must remain a neutral agency, it would be inappropriate for them to provide oversight of fair share fee calculations.
At Representative Hansen’s request, Mr. Nobles ran through the list of upcoming evaluations again. With no further business, Representative Hansen adjourned the meeting at 2:04 p.m.
Representative Rick Hansen, Chair
Shelly Watterud, Recording Secretary
