February 27, 2023
Representative Rick Hansen, Chair, called the Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. The first order of business was Chair Hansen’s announcement of member assignments to subcommittees, as follows: (1) Executive Subcommittee: Senator Koran, Chair; Representatives Hansen and Quam; and Senator Xiong; (2) Audit Subcommittee: Representative Anderson, Chair; Representatives Jacob and Lee; and Senators Drazkowski and Rest; and (3) Evaluation Subcommittee: Representative Greenman, Chair; Representatives Hansen and Quam; and Senators Bahr, Dibble, and Koran.
Jodi Munson Rodríguez, Deputy Legislative Auditor for the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA), gave a brief introduction regarding the evaluation report, State Programs That Support Minnesotans on the Basis of Racial, Ethnic, or American Indian Identity. Sarah Delacueva, OLA Project Manager, then presented report highlights, findings, and recommendations.
Chair Hansen then asked representatives from the agencies to speak. Kevin McKinnon, Deputy Commissioner for DEED; Jodi Harpstead, Commissioner for DHS; and Jennifer Ho, Commissioner for MHFA, provided their responses to the report.
Further discussion took place among the agency representatives and LAC members. LAC members expressed interest in how agencies could show that programs are making a difference and if agencies could prioritize programs that are effective. Chair Hansen suggested that perhaps legislators allocate funding in grants for evaluations of program effectiveness.
In response to a request by Chair Hansen, Ms. Munson Rodríguez identified OLA’s forthcoming evaluation reports and explained the upcoming topic selection process.
With no further comments, Chair Hansen adjourned the meeting at 10:11 a.m.
Representative Rick Hansen, Chair
Maureen Garrahy, Recording Secretary
