Joint Committee Committee on Executive Committee of the Legislative Council (04/08/2011)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Date:	04/08/2011	ATTENDANCE

Time:	08:23 AM to 08:39 AM	Kopp	X
		Morse	X
Place:	SCR 354	Pace	X
		Stephens	*
This Meeting was called to order by		McNulty	*
	Senator Shaffer B.	Shaffer B.	X

This Report was prepared by
	Christie Lee
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Report from Legislative Audit Committee		-

08:23 AM -- Report from Legislative Audit Committee

President Shaffer called the committee to order. Senator Tochtrop, Chair, and Representative Acree, Vice-chair, Legislative Audit Committee, came to the table to discuss Dianne Ray, the candidate the committee selected to become the new state auditor. Senator Tochtrop talked about the process the committee used to determine the top four candidates who applied for the State Auditor position. She also discussed the interviews of those top four candidates.

08:26 AM

Representative Acree talked about Ms. Ray's qualifications and background.

08:28 AM

Dianne Ray, candidate for State Auditor, responded to a question from Senator Kopp regarding where she sees the Office of the State Auditor going, and what she would like to achieve as the new state auditor. Ms. Ray explained that she has been with the auditor's office for nine years, and served the last five as deputy state auditor. Ms. Ray talked about the importance of communication with the legislature and the benefits the office can provide to the legislature. Representative Stephens asked what kind of resources she feels the office needs to take the department in the direction she would like it to go. Ms. Ray talked about the IT needs of the office. Senator Kopp talked about the lack of use of the audit department and current talks of creating a two-year budget cycle and utilizing the department in that process. He asked Ms. Ray to comment on what the office would need to accomplish that goal. Ms. Ray explained that the Audit Committee has discussed those issues and has talked about creating a database containing the programs that have and have not been implemented by departments.
08:36 AM

Mike Mauer, Director, Legislative Council Staff, explained the process regarding hiring a new auditor and a the resolution that would be drafted and introduced by the Audit Committee following today's meeting.


BILL:	Report from Legislative Audit Committee
TIME:	08:36:52 AM
MOVED:	Kopp
MOTION:	Move that the Executive Committee concur with the Audit Committee's recommendation. The motion passed 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Stephens	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Shaffer B.	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

08:37 AM

Speaker McNulty commented on the importance of the Office of the State Auditor. President Shaffer commented on the contributions from Sally Symanski, the current State Auditor.

08:39 AM

The committee adjourned.