May 8, 2026
Senator D. Scott Dibble, Chair, called the Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) Evaluation Subcommittee meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. in room G3 State Capitol. Senator Dibble asked for a roll call; all members were present. Senator Dibble recognized and welcomed Representative Hansen to the meeting and invited him to participate in the discussion. Senator Dibble then introduced Jodi Munson Rodríguez, Deputy Legislative Auditor, Program Evaluation Division of the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). Ms. Munson Rodríguez outlined the materials in members’ packets and briefly went through the background papers for the 12 topics under consideration.
During discussion, Representative Lee asked that with DHS and County Service Approvals and Provision being a large topic, the background paper for the legislative survey be adjusted to indicate that this topic would focus only a specific program, which if picked, would be part of future topic selection discussion as to what specifically would be evaluated. Representative Hansen asked that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Feedlot Permitting background paper add revised questions regarding feedlot attrition and expansion rates, and the effectiveness of permitting on water quality, human health impacts, and feedlot closure monitoring. Senator Rest said she felt that the Minnesota Research Tax Credit topic could be better answered by the Minnesota Department of Revenue and suggested the Legislative Audit Commission could send the commissioner a letter asking the department to look into the program and see if it is worthwhile for taxpayers.
With the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) topic, Ms. Munson Rodríguez explained that MFCU is required by the federal government, operates under standards set by the federal government, and is audited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). The last published review was in 2023, for year 2022. Representative Lee asked what year OLA would look at if the topic was considered. Ms. Munson Rodríguez said that could depend upon when the next federal OIG report comes out, but would likely include year 2025. Senator Drazkowski suggested that an OLA review could then include any gaps not covered in the federal OIG report.
Senator Dibble said that a topic he would like to discuss for the future would be the potential for a statewide school employee healthcare system. Ms. Munson Rodríguez said she could add it as a consideration for fall selection or that if an agency such as Minnesota Management and Budget was asked to do an actuarial exam, OLA could provide an opinion on the methodology used in the analysis. Senator Dibble said that this was not a new idea; an analysis had been done at one time and perhaps there could be an update to it. Senator Drazkowski said that since OLA evaluates existing programs and not speculative ones, this might not be a suitable topic for OLA. Senator Dibble agreed and thanked Senator Drazkowski for his comment.
Senator Rest then made a motion to adopt the eight topics listed as the most promising for OLA evaluation to be on the legislative survey. Representative Anderson requested an amendment to Senator Rest’s motion to include AGO MFCU. Representative Lee said he would support Senator Rest’s motion but felt there should be more discussion on the AGO MFCU topic. Senator Dibble then said they would vote on Senator Rest’s motion of the first eight topics and take up Representative Anderson’s request as a separate motion.
A voice vote was taken on Senator Rest’s motion to adopt the top eight most promising evaluation topics for the legislative survey; the motion passed unanimously. Senator Dibble then took a voice vote on Representative Anderson’s motion to adopt the AGO MFCU topic; the Chair was in doubt of the result. Senator Dibble requested a roll call vote on Representative Anderson’s motion; the vote was a tie. With a tie, the motion failed. The eight topics selected for the legislative survey were:
Representative Quam asked that the AGO MFCU topic be considered again in the fall with a revised background paper that would include looking at augmenting or clarifying the federal OIG report.
Seeing no further discussion, Senator Dibble adjourned the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Senator D. Scott Dibble, Chair
Evaluation Subcommittee
Maureen Garrahy, Recording Secretary
