Office of the Legislative Auditor

Legislative Audit Commission

Evaluation Subcommittee
Minutes

March 21, 2022

Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, Chair, called the Legislative Audit Commission Evaluation Subcommittee meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Chair Kiffmeyer introduced Judy Randall, Legislative Auditor for the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA), who then reviewed the 15 topics the Evaluation Subcommittee selected at the March 1, 2022, subcommittee meeting. Ms. Randall said the purpose of the meeting was to narrow the list of topics to ten, and briefly covered the topic selection criteria as a decision-making guide for the subcommittee.

Senator Klein asked what the next steps would be in the topic selection process. Ms. Randall explained that after the subcommittee narrowed the list, the remaining topics would be sent on a survey to all legislators, to gauge their interest. Following that, there would be a final subcommittee meeting to select the final five topics for evaluation. The full Legislative Audit Commission would then meet to approve the final topics for OLA to evaluate.

Further discussion took place regarding the possible evaluation topics. Senator Klein then motioned that the following topics be selected for further consideration:

1. Board of Nursing
2. County Mental Health Crisis Response Teams
3. Energy Conservation Improvement Program
4. Grants to Nonprofit Organizations
5. Minnesota Department of Education Grants Oversight
6. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Landfill Permitting and Oversight
7. Office of Justice Programs Grants
8. RentHelpMN and COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program
9. Southwest Light Rail Transit
10. Sustainable Building Guidelines

Further discussion took place as to renaming and combining certain topics, and adding other topics onto the list. Ms. Randall said that if it would help members reach consensus, the list could be expanded from 10 to 11 topics. With that, Representative Hansen suggested that “Programs Supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Minnesotans” be added as the 11th topic.

Senator Klein removed his motion. Senator Kiffmeyer then motioned for the above 10 topics and the below 11th topic to be selected for further consideration:

     11. Programs Supporting Minnesotans Who Are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

A roll call vote was taken with five members voting for and one member voting against the motion. The motion passed. Chair Kiffmeyer adjourned the meeting at 8:47 a.m.

Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, Chair
Evaluation Subcommittee

Maureen Garrahy, Recording Secretary