Transcript Highlights:

• I think we should do an audit of a hand-count town as well, and I don't...
• I think we should do an audit of a hand-count town as well, and I don't...
• I think we should do an audit of a hand-count town as well, and I don't...
• that we do the more than the audits that we do the randomized<00:36:49.319> audits<00:36:50.319
• machines I think we should do an audit machines I think we should do an audit of<00:36:57.760>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• different sections, the financial audit different sections, the financial audit uh<00:02:43.360>
• And the financial audit reports reports.
• uh we have [snorts] our financial audit uh we have [snorts] our financial audit division<00:10:18.520
• How are the audits funded?
• And the How are the audits funded?

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're not auditing who's getting access, which, with all other forms of state aid, sans the voucher
• We would only look at it if there was an audit, and that only, a random audit, and that happens very
• by anybody um and um we know an audit by anybody um and um we know that<00:29:55.120> the<00:
• and that only you a random an audit and that only you a random audit<00:30:48.480> and<00:30:
• and that happens very rarely audit and that happens very rarely because<00:30:50.360> basically

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we coming out of the audits.
• create and implement an undefined audit create and implement an undefined audit and<00:32:08.880
• That's all right.<01:12:37.199> Uh,<01:12:37.760> audits. right. Uh, audits. right.
• Uh, audits.
• Uh, audits may be conducted only after the building official has created a formal audit evaluation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I asked about the audits, two audits, of whether you guys... No, no, you didn't just ask about two.
• I asked about the audits, two audits, of whether you guys... No, no, you didn't just ask about two.
• in front of them. when there are audits in front of them. when there are audits and<01:20:48.400
• 01:29:23.040> our audits that are justifying our audits that are justifying our frustration<01
• And the audits show us, if you read the audit, it shows us that there are a lot of incompetence going

Bills: SB2901, SB2902, SB2903, SB2904, SB2905, SB2906, SB2907, SB2908, SB2909, SB2910, SB2911, SB2912, SB2913, SB2914, SB2915, SB2916, SB2917, SB2918, SB2919, SB2920, SB2921, SB2922, SB2923, SB2924, SB2925, SB2926, SB2927, SB2928, SB2929, SB2930, SB2931, SB2932, SB2933, SB2934, SB2935, SB2936, SB2937, SB2938, SB2939, SB2940, SB2941, SB2942, SB2943, SB2944, SB2945, SB2946, SB2947, SB2948, SB2949, SB2950, SB2951, SB2952, SB2953, SB2954, SB2955, SB2956, SB2957, SB2958, SB2959, SB2960, SB2961, SB2962, SB2963, SB2964, SB2965, SB2966, SB2967, SB2968, SB2969, SB2970, SB2971, SB2972, SB2973, SB2974, SB2975, SB2976, SB2977, SB2978, SB2979, SB2980, SB2981, SB2982, SB2983, SB2984, SB2985, SB2986, SB2987, SB2988, SB2989, SB2990, SB2991, SB2992, SB2993, SB2994, SB2995, SB2996, SB2997, SB2998, SB2999, SB3000

Keywords: geological subsurface characterization, groundwater, geothermal resources, environmental review, Hawaii groundwater and geothermal resources center, scientific research, non-extractive, public trust doctrine, clean energy, greenhouse gas, carbon sequestration, climate change, energy policy, Hawaii state energy office, emissions reduction, sustainable development, fare-free transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, public transit, tax on petroleum

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a local audit that is very perfunctory. Thank you. There's no state audit of this.
• Now, you have taken a look at the audits, supposedly detailed audits, which I strongly disagree with.
• "Being audited to ensure they are in compliance with the statute, correct?
• That's why there has to be state audits.
• And is that your audit from a few years ago?

Bills: SB39, SB2129, SB2141, SB2246, SB2323, SB2439, SB2722

Keywords: commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee reconvened on SB 2722, as substituted by Senator Bettencourt, which would redirect a portion of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus revenues to the City of Houston and impose audit and tax-rate penalty provisions. Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz testified in support, arguing that Houston bears a large share of toll-road public safety burdens, citing thousands of police and fire responses on toll-road property and the need for compensation for emergency services. Bill King, testifying neutrally, said the toll authority generates large excess revenues and urged stronger oversight and clearer controls on how the money is spent. Opponents, including Harris County officials, business and neighborhood representatives, and toll-road critics, argued the bill would divert transportation dollars, create a precedent for taking toll revenues for general municipal use, and could worsen project delivery and incentives; several also questioned the accuracy and interpretation of the revenue figures and the lack of comparable audit requirements for the city. The committee took extensive testimony but left SB 2722 pending without a vote. The committee then heard SB 2129, which would increase fines for motorists who disregard railroad crossing gates or flaggers, and SB 2323, which would redact railroad crew members’ personal information from public accident reports. Both bills were presented as safety measures, with railroad labor testimony in support, and both were left pending after brief public testimony. The committee also heard SB 2141, a Zaffirini bill concerning specialty license plates for judges, with the substitute aimed at reducing security risks by changing how judges are identified on plates; it too was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2439, another Zaffirini bill, described as a TDLR cleanup measure related to ATV and off-highway vehicle safety certification. The bill would abolish the current training and certification program, which supporters said was burdensome and underused given the small number of approved instructors statewide. With no significant opposition on the record, the committee closed testimony and left SB 2439 pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. Today is July 15, 2026.
• ...additional performance audits done independently by the State Auditor's Office.
• Committee on State Auditor's Office performance audits.
• Welcome back to the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee for July 15, '26.
• The other performance audits we heard earlier today were for September.

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:50.520> side we issue on our financial audit side we issue on our financial audit side
• And the other thing I want to say in, um, maybe, Chair, as you brought up audits, right, and with audits
• In our discussions, you and I have often said that I appreciate audit, and that audits are something
• 47:29.400> says and that audits are something that says and that audits are something that says
• The next thing are our performance audits, which are internal control and compliance audits.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on February 11 and began with introductions from members and staff, who shared brief personal and district facts. Chair Jim Nash then outlined the committee’s goals for the session, emphasizing bipartisan cooperation, the need to address a looming structural deficit, and the committee’s role in moving legislation forward. The committee also reviewed its rules for the year. The main item was House File 3, authored by Chair Nash and referred to Ways and Means. The bill would require the Office of the Legislative Auditor to produce an annual report tracking whether agencies have implemented prior audit and evaluation recommendations, with the goal of improving internal controls, transparency, and accountability and helping legislators make funding decisions. Nash described the bill as a preventative measure to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, and said it was modeled in part on practices used in Colorado. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall testified that the office already produces similar update reports but lacks resources to independently verify many agency responses; she said the bill would provide a framework for more regular reporting and discussion, not a “shame tool.” Ranna Lee of Americans for Prosperity testified in support, saying the bill would increase accountability and transparency for how public agencies manage taxpayer resources. A letter from the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits was also noted in support. Representative Clardy offered the A7 amendment to add an appropriation matching the fiscal note; Nash accepted it, saying savings could be found later in the process. The committee approved the A7 amendment by voice vote. During discussion, Representative Quam supported the bill’s focus on accountability, and Representative Freiberg questioned the Legislative Auditor about the office’s expertise on a specific ambulance-services recommendation in the report. Randall responded that the office’s staff are policy research generalists who use standards, best practices, interviews, surveys, and site visits to develop recommendations, and that the goal is to prompt further discussion rather than require blind acceptance. The transcript ends during that exchange, with no final committee vote on House File 3 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, once a relief association goes over that audit threshold, they have to keep doing an audit
• we'd be doubling that audit threshold. we'd be doubling that audit threshold.
• How do you set an audit threshold?
• Frequency is a real key issue when it comes to audits. We talk about audit versus an AUP.
• We talk about audit comes to um audits.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, but for this audit, would this impact this audit?
• There was an audit, but I don't know who that was or how the audit came about. News for what?
• Versus the status of the audit, I guess, are you able to?
• Well, if there's an audit, if we start an audit, yes.
• So if we're auditing a taxpayer that is purchasing these sorts of animals.

Bills: HB134, HB135, HB 1109, HB 1243, HB1392, HB1399, HJR99, HB134, HB135

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, local tax, municipal tax, county tax, tax sourcing, place of business, principal business location, small business, retailer, marketplace seller, economic development agreement, Chapter 321, Chapter 323, Tax Code, Texas Comptroller, local sales and use tax, tax jurisdiction, order consummation, ship-to location

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and it would probably happen during an audit if I'm not mistaken.
• They would ask for this type of report if they were auditing the financials and that kind of thing.
• Um, and it would probably happen during an audit if I'm not mistaken.
• happen during an audit if I'm not<00:06:39.280> mistaken.
• <00:06:42.560> the type of report if they were auditing the type of report if they were auditing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes and then approved the consent calendar, with one item removed for separate consideration. On the regular calendar, the Department of Agriculture rule item 25207 drew concern because it involved adopting rules that had expired years earlier, and the agency was not present to answer questions. A motion was made and approved to grant a waiver and postpone that item until next month. The removed lottery item was then taken up with representatives from the New Hampshire Lottery and Gaming Commission present. The discussion focused on a reporting requirement that operators said could be burdensome if required on a regular basis. The committee agreed to revise the language so the report would be provided only upon request, rather than annually, with the agency clarifying that the request would likely arise during an audit and that the report should be the most recent stock report. After the verbal edits were agreed to, a motion for conditional approval of the lottery rule was made and seconded, and the committee approved it unanimously. No other business was raised, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, we completed two audits, very rigorous and tough audits, one being from Lannigan and Associates
• Then we were notified of an audit by the inspector general to audit the gas and license plate funds.
• The result of that audit: no findings.
• Recently, we completed two audits, very rigorous and tough audits, one being from Lannigan and Associates
• Then we were notified of an audit by the inspector general to audit the gas and license plate funds.

Summary: The Committee on Military Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met to consider SB 96, which originally proposed a new veterans dental care program but was amended to expand the existing Veterans Dental Care Grant Program. The amendment raised eligibility from 300% to 400% of the federal poverty level and added a recurring $500,000 general revenue appropriation. Members discussed whether expanding eligibility without guaranteed additional funding could dilute services for veterans already being served, while supporters argued it would help veterans currently turned away for dental care. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 96 favorably by roll call vote, with Chair Wright voting no. The committee also approved two committee bills continuing public records exemptions: SPB 7000, covering the address and telephone number of people staying in public emergency shelters during storms or catastrophic events, and SPB 7002, covering certain Department of Military Affairs records stored in or transmitted through Department of Defense systems or related to military cyber operations. Both were moved as committee bills without objection and were favorably reported. Members then received presentations from Dr. Pia Woodley of the Florida Veterans Foundation and Joe Marino of Veterans Florida. Dr. Woodley outlined the foundation’s dental initiatives, emergency assistance, transportation support, benefits guide distribution, new programs for state veterans’ homes and community grants, and recent audits with no findings. Marino described Veterans Florida’s SkillBridge, entrepreneur, and workforce programs, including outreach and federal partnerships, and noted legislative priorities to allow stipends for training at UF IFAS AGVets facilities and to rename a program in statute for clarity. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's in there. >> The audits are not done yet. The audits are happening.
• >> The audits are not done yet. The audits >> The audits are not done yet.
• The audits are<00:09:25.040> happening.
• These forensic audits outside of this.
• The audits are not done yet. The audits are happening.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting centered on Minnesota’s budget outlook, with the governor and budget officials saying the state remains in a stronger fiscal position than expected despite national economic uncertainty. He emphasized that Minnesota has a surplus, historic rainy-day funds, and continued economic growth, and said the administration plans to continue budgeting over the horizon, using inflation assumptions and long-term planning to avoid abrupt cuts. He also defended last year’s budget compromises and said another budget proposal would be released early next year. A major theme was the governor’s criticism of President Trump and federal actions, which he said were creating economic chaos and harming Minnesotans. He condemned Trump’s comments about Somali Minnesotans and the state, called them racist and dangerous, and argued that elected officials should denounce such rhetoric. He also raised concerns about federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, saying masked agents were causing fear and confusion and that state and local law enforcement lacked communication from federal authorities. The governor and commissioners also discussed fraud in state programs, saying the state has paused certain programs for 90 days and brought in independent forensic auditors to determine the scope of losses. He said the administration is using new stop-payment authority and referrals to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to prevent and prosecute fraud, while avoiding broad cuts to programs that help children, families, and vulnerable Minnesotans. In response to questions, he said the fraud total is not yet known, the audit should conclude around the end of January, and the state will use the findings to add safeguards and address program growth and health care cost pressures in the upcoming session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:39.600> and will be dedicated to auditing and will be dedicated to auditing and staying
• the time of determination, so that would be at the time of the final audit, right?
• the time of determination, so that would be at the time of the final audit, right?
• the time of determination, so that would be at the time of the final audit, right?
• the time of determination, so that would be at the time of the final audit, right?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor-related measures. SB 183 would allow arbitration to resolve disputes over state and county contributions to the EUTF benefits trust fund; labor groups supported it, and the committee advanced it with amendments. SB 185, concerning indebtedness to the state, drew support from unions and discussion with DAGS about tiered repayment options for lower-paid employees; DAGS said the system could be programmed to accommodate the bill, and the measure was also advanced with amendments. SB 458 would expand the definition of employer for wage-payment laws to include the state and counties when no comparable public-employee provision exists; HSTA testified in support, citing repeated delayed pay for teachers, while DAGS and county representatives raised operational concerns. The committee deferred SB 458 for further administrative work. SB 425, on qualified community rehabilitation programs and the aggregate contract cap, was advanced with technical amendments after UPW said employers were splitting contracts to exceed the statutory threshold. The committee also considered SB 1287, which would apply unfair and deceptive practices law to tipped food and beverage establishments and require tip-pool signage with wage-division contact information. The Attorney General’s office recommended a savings clause to avoid retroactive application issues, and the committee passed the bill with amendments. SB 1660 would require hospitality employers to adopt anti-harassment measures, training, panic buttons, and anti-retaliation protections; the Commission on the Status of Women and worker advocates supported it, while DLIR noted existing complaint systems and the need for rulemaking. The committee adopted amendments incorporating sexual assault hotline information, panic-button guidance, and employer flexibility on translation languages, then passed the bill with amendments. SB 631, relating to the Department of Human Resources Development, was deferred, with the chair noting a prior law already allows departments to screen and select applicants from initial pools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Include additional standards and notifications around auditors and the audit guide.
• SB 414 seeks to respond to those audits and provide additional accountability across the state.
• Most of the audit findings point back to a greater need for oversight and transparency.
• Spotless audit history over decades of operation.
• And so that's why we're so focused on the audit guidelines.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:56.440> books valuation or closed uh um audited books valuation or closed uh um audited
• <01:11:06.440> set were struggling to do the audit set were struggling to do the audit set
• 1% of those audit set-aside funds.
• audit uh audit set be a line that says audit uh audit set aside<01:24:45.280> when<01:24:45.400
• a requirement for audits.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 retirement provisions, focusing on Group Two/Tier B changes in pages 25-39. Jan Goodwin of the New Hampshire Retirement System and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions, but it restores certain pre-2011 benefit rules for Tier B members, including changes to average final compensation and earnable compensation, and it also addresses the annuity multiplier for years of service. Members discussed the tier structure, with Tier A referring to vested members, Tier B to those hired before 11/1/12 who were not vested, and Tier C to later hires. Several members expressed concern that the bill’s purpose was to restore Tier B benefits, not to change Tier A rules or create broader changes affecting newer hires. The retirement system flagged two likely drafting problems. First, it said a provision appears to omit a special-duty/earnable-compensation limitation in the Group Two section, which they believed was a scrivener’s error caused by moving language out of the Group One definition without adding it back for Group Two. Second, they noted the bill’s multiplier language overlaps with changes already enacted in HB 1647, which increased the multiplier for service beyond 15 years for Group Two and carried an estimated $26 million cost. The committee discussed that HB 1647 was originally broader in the House, but the Senate narrowed it to Tier B only. The actuary’s comparison of the 2023 and 2025 HB 2 versions showed the bills are close, but the 2025 version differs in funding and timing. Staff said the 2025 bill appropriates $2.5 million more per year for 10 years, and that, together with updated actuarial assumptions and a larger share of the affected tier having already retired or otherwise left service, results in a larger reduction in unfunded liability than the 2023 bill: about $98.2 million versus $68.5 million. Employer contribution impacts were described as small overall, though the 2025 bill was said to be somewhat more favorable than the 2023 version. Members also questioned why House Bill 1 only funds $5 million in the first year, and staff said that was tied to the governor’s revenue estimate and that the full funding does not begin immediately. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the committee mainly received testimony, asked clarifying questions, and noted that some issues would be addressed in the fiscal note worksheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• capacity means the ability to move priority projects from need to planning to financial assistance, to procurement
• You know, the Water Development Board, they do the water loss audits.
• And one of the components of those audits, they basically look at how much revenue water is essentially
• And so those audits were required by legislation passed in 2013, I believe. I believe that's right.
• building in the state, and data center water use is sustainable, according to the Joint Legislative Audit

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We talked about we were getting ready to have an audit.
• the audit, but we're fully open to um the discussion on proceeding forward with that.
• We talked about we were getting ready to have an audit.
• Um, we thought about waiting to audit.
• Oh, the audit.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:11:06.440> set were struggling to do the audit set were struggling to do the audit set
• Typically, they do have language to set aside the 1% for the audit set-aside, or the 0.1% for the audit
• Typically, they do have language to set aside the 1% for the audit set-aside, or the 0.1% for the audit
• audit uh audit set be a line that says audit uh audit set aside<01:24:45.280> when<01:24:45.400
• audit audit done<01:25:13.000> right<01:25:13.520> not<01:25:13.760> that<01:25

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 provisions affecting the New Hampshire Retirement System, focusing on Group 2/Tier B retirement changes in pages 25 through 39 of the bill. NHRS Executive Director Jan Goodwin and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions and to HB 727, with the main difference being that the 2025 version does not include the earlier increase in the maximum benefit. They also said the fiscal note for HB 2 is based on earlier actuarial work and that an updated valuation was expected later in the week. A major topic was whether the bill accidentally removed an anti-spiking or special-duty compensation limit. NHRS said the omission appears to be a scrivener’s error caused by moving language between Group 1 and Group 2 definitions, and they planned to flag it in the fiscal note. Members also reviewed the bill’s intent to restore Tier B members to pre-2011 benefit rules, including changes to earnable compensation, average final compensation, and the comp-over-base rule. Some members questioned whether restoring those older rules was appropriate, arguing the 2011 changes were meant to curb pension spiking and that undoing them could be problematic. The committee also discussed the bill’s cost and funding assumptions. NHRS said the 2025 bill would reduce unfunded actuarial liability by about $98.2 million and would have a more favorable effect than the 2023 version, while employer contribution impacts would remain relatively small. Members noted the bill assumes annual appropriations of $27.5 million for 10 years, but House Bill 1 currently provides only $5 million in the first year, and NHRS had not yet analyzed the effect of that shortfall. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on clarifying the bill’s language, intent, and fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:16.480> the managing contracts, auditing the managing contracts, auditing the contracts
• Have you done any research or auditing of provider fraud?
• Have you done any research or auditing Have you done any research or auditing of<00:40:44.640>
• It requires audits to be completed within 180 calendar days and that notice of the audit finding be given
• We fully support audits to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.