December 14, 2023
Representative Patti Anderson, Chair, called the Legislative Audit Commission Audit Subcommittee to order at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of the meeting was to hear presentations from the Financial Audit Division of the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) on two performance audits, Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Secretary of State.
Chair Anderson introduced Lori Leysen, Deputy Legislative Auditor for OLA’s Financial Audit Division, to give the audit presentation on the Attorney General’s Office and take questions from members. Chair Anderson then invited representatives of the Attorney General’s Office—Keith Ellison, Attorney General; Dan Hill, Finance and Accounting Supervisor; and Sarah Spence Myers, Human Resources Director—to take members’ questions. Attorney General Ellison addressed the subcommittee and said that the office had already put steps in place to resolve OLA’s audit finding regarding documentation of preapproval for staff overtime, and he thanked the subcommittee members and the Legislature for their support of the office. Chair Anderson commended the work of the Attorney General’s Office, saying it was good to see only a minor finding.
Chair Anderson then invited Gabbie Johnson, Audit Team Lead for OLA’s Financial Audit Division, to give the audit presentation on the Office of the Secretary of State and take members’ questions. Chair Anderson next invited representatives of the Office of the Secretary of State—Adam Hansen, Director of Business Services; Jenny Kurz, Fiscal Services Supervisor; and David Maeda, Elections Director—to address the subcommittee. Office representatives said the office plans to make changes to its software to resolve OLA’s audit finding regarding missing grant documentation. They explained that with the new software, grant requests cannot be submitted to the office until all supporting documentation is uploaded, which will then be reviewed by staff.
Further discussion focused on having the Secretary of State’s Office ask the grantees of concern to provide their receipts, and how there could be a follow-up to the audit finding. Deputy Legislative Auditor Leysen said that OLA’s Financial Audit Division is planning to start following up on all prior audit findings at all agencies going forward, including this audit, with the intent to communicate follow-up results to the Legislature. Ms. Leysen then gave a brief summary of audits that would be released in the spring of 2024.
With no further discussion, Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting at 11:24 a.m.
Representative Patti Anderson, Chair
Audit Subcommittee
Maureen Garrahy, Recording Secretary
