Video & Transcript Research : 'judgment evaluation'
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FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Mar 26th, 2025
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And I get really tired of a machine questioning my judgment.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
PSM, PSM DEFER Public Hearings 01-29-2025
Transcript Highlights:
- A police officer uses his or her judgment on a warrantless search, whereas on a search warrant a judge
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs met on January 29, 2025, and first took up deferred SB 259 on record keeping. The chair said Honu Police Department had submitted support, and the committee recommended passage with amendments, including a technical change to the effective date on page 4, line 6 to July 1, 2077. Vice Chair Elefante voted yes; Senators Fevella and Rhoads were excused; the recommendation was adopted.
The committee then heard SB 603 and SB 608, both relating to veterans benefits consulting and compensation. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to address First Amendment, Contracts Clause, and savings-clause issues, and testimony was mixed, with several supporters from veterans-related organizations and several opponents, including some testifiers from the public and industry groups. The committee later adopted chair recommendations to pass both bills with amendments, including preambles about protecting veteran consumers from misleading or unfair practices, savings clauses, and effective-date changes to July 1, 2077.
SB 601, relating to law enforcement search notices and securing entrances, drew support from the Office of the Public Defender and a private citizen who described the bill as a response to warrantless searches and a transparency measure; there was also opposition from Maui County police and one other testifier. The committee then moved to SB 871 on arson, where the Department of the Attorney General raised drafting and constitutional concerns and the Public Defender opposed the measure as vague, overbroad, and creating problematic sentencing provisions, while HPD supported it as a public-safety tool. The chair ultimately recommended SB 871 pass with amendments softening mandatory language, adding parole language, and changing the effective date to July 1, 2077; the recommendation was adopted.
The final measures were SB 1130, exempting certain construction rebuilding materials from general excise tax in federally declared disaster areas, and SB 104, restricting solitary confinement in correctional facilities. The Department of Taxation requested third-party certification and a later effective date, and the committee adopted amendments reflecting those requests and moving the effective date to January 1, 2026. On SB 104, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation opposed the bill, citing staff assaults and existing policy updates, while the Oversight Commission, Public Defender, and multiple advocates supported it as a safeguard with oversight and due process protections. The committee passed SB 104 with amendments, including adopting the commission’s definition language, changing terminology to “restrictive housing,” and setting the effective date to July 1, 2077.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- so you know in part of this evaluation so you know in part of this evaluation uh<00:26:36.960>
evaluate a rebasic. evaluate a rebasic. Okay.<01:16:17.360>- This evaluation is ongoing, and the purpose of it is to evaluate each of the mechanisms that we have.
- This evaluation is ongoing, and the purpose of it is to evaluate each of the mechanisms that we have.
- This evaluation is ongoing and the purpose of it is to evaluate each of the mechanisms we have.
Right.
Summary:
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational briefing on the Public Utilities Commission’s performance-based regulation (PBR) framework and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ whistleblower complaint process. Chair Jared Kohole opened the meeting, noted it was informational only with no public testimony, and explained that members would hear presentations and then have an opportunity for questions. The committee heard first from Ulupono Initiative, which provided background on why utilities are regulated, how Hawaii’s cost-of-service model and rate cases work, and why PBR was adopted to shift utility incentives away from a capital-investment bias and toward performance, efficiency, cost control, and policy goals such as renewable energy and reliability.
Ulupono described Hawaii’s PBR structure as a five-year multi-year rate plan with annual revenue adjustments, a customer dividend, a Z factor for extraordinary exogenous events, and an exceptional project recovery mechanism for large projects. It also outlined performance incentive mechanisms tied to renewable portfolio standard progress, interconnection speed, reliability, and shared savings. The presentation said the current docket is evaluating a possible hybrid approach that would combine forward-looking forecasting with historical results, and Ulupono advocated for stronger incentives, arguing the current rewards are too small relative to utility revenues and should be more meaningful to better align utility behavior with legislative intent.
The PUC then presented its own overview, emphasizing that the PBR docket is open and active and that the briefing was limited to the record to avoid ex parte concerns. The commission described the development of PBR in Hawaii through multiple phases beginning in 2018: an initial collaborative phase to set goals, a formal contested-case phase that produced the initial framework, later phases adding scorecards, reported metrics, and additional performance incentive mechanisms, and subsequent refinements including sunset of some mechanisms and adjustments after the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The PUC said the framework is intended to be customer-centric, administratively efficient, and protective of utility financial integrity, and that current work includes evaluating how to balance forward-looking and historical test-year approaches within the rebasing process. No votes or formal actions were taken at the briefing.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-28 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Hospitals should evaluate those prices that are above 500%.
- We asked the treasurer to evaluate a...
- We asked the treasurer to evaluate a public insurance program that would have included VHI and VSEA.
- The other body added a provision that when such an evaluation is required, that individual can obtain
- their own independent evaluation as well and provide it to the court.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Retirement and Government Resources REVISED Feb 17th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Retirement and Government Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Would you explain that evaluate and manage personnel so that I can understand exactly what it is you're
- Which is, the language here says to evaluate and manage personnel, and I guess my confusion is that I'm
- So, you're talking about evaluating and managing the volunteers. Is that correct?
- Which is, the language here says to evaluate and manage personnel, and I guess my confusion is that I'm
- So, you're talking about evaluating and managing the volunteers. Is that correct?
Bills:
SB134, SB1356, SB1407, SB1611, SB1639, SB169, SB1722, SB182, SB1870, SB2039, SB432, SB609, SB715, SB716
Keywords:
retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Nov 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- This process, which includes a site visit, is intended to 1) Allow PED to evaluate whether programs meet
- In 2023, NTCQ conducted an evaluation of reading courses offered at teacher preparation programs across
- I want to thank the LESC for doing an incredible job with their evaluation too.
- These are opportunities to bring in our students to do evaluation science-based instruction to focus
- They provide student evaluation.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Sep 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Matt Goodlaw, one of your LFC program evaluators.
- Also on this project is Elizabeth Dodson, another program evaluator.
- It's an evaluation brief. It's in Tab J of your binder.
- . health of the local entity, but not necessarily evaluative.
- Or is that best handled elsewhere, not with our evaluators? Probably.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Apr 9th, 2025 at 01:00 pm
North Dakota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Senate proposed amendments to House Bill 1354, a bill relating to evaluations conducted by appraisers
- In subsection 3, it is clarified that appraisal and evaluations are distinctly different from each other
- ... ...or provides an evaluation, and the amendment in Section 4 clarifies that a certified appraiser
- may provide an evaluation if that evaluation is permitted by law.
- Despite favorable scientific evaluations deeming it suitable for long-term storage, the project faced
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then approved journal corrections and recognized visiting students from Underwood School. The chamber also handled several conference committee appointments after failing to concur with Senate amendments on House bills 1022, 1049, 1229, and 1029, and after the Senate failed to concur on House amendments to Senate bills 2010 and 2113. The House then concurred in or passed a series of amended measures, including House Bills 1481 (dental insurance loss ratio and reporting), 1511 (physician guidance on abortion law, with an emergency clause), 1562 (mandated reporter training), 1197 (correctional facilities study), 1095 (child protective services liaison work group), 1317 (barber licensing board changes), 1549 (corrections facility grants and reentry-related provisions), 1354 (appraiser evaluations), 1374 (open meeting exemption for township supervisors during on-site inspections), 1355 (abbreviated notice for administrative rulemaking), 1025 (advanced nuclear energy study), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes), 1592 (Lignite Research Council updates), and 1375 (alcohol service/photo ID provisions). Final passage votes were recorded on each bill, with most passing comfortably and some drawing notable opposition, especially HB 1470 and HB 1549.
The House spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2011, the Highway Patrol appropriation. Members discussed shifting one-time funding from the general fund to the Electronic Motor Carrier Permit Fund, including body armor, preliminary breath tests, an emergency vehicle course, resurfacing, fleet costs, and handgun/taser replacement, while also noting a federal grant and no new FTEs. Questions focused on salary-line increases and the new-and-vacant FTE pool, with Appropriations explaining that those dollars had been moved back into agency budgets from OMB. The bill passed 84-6. The House also passed Senate Bill 2013, the Commissioner of University and School Lands appropriation, after discussion of Trust Lands operations, unclaimed property staffing, and distributions from the Common Schools Trust Fund; one member was excused for a conflict, and the bill passed 67-22. Senate Bill 2023, the Racing Commission appropriation, passed 65-25 after a brief explanation of the agency’s responsibilities and funding.
A major policy debate centered on Senate Bill 2385, which revises mobile home park regulation. Supporters said it creates receivership procedures if a license is revoked, requires clearer tenant notices, limits certain fees, and strengthens protections against eviction and utility overcharges. Two members were excused from voting due to conflicts tied to mobile home park ownership, and the bill passed 84-4. Another extended debate occurred on Senate Bill 2159, which allows the State Energy Research Center to study nuclear-related projects with approval from the Industrial Commission and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. Supporters said it is meant to help study advanced nuclear energy while preserving existing prohibitions on high-level radioactive waste storage; opponents raised concerns that the language could weaken prior protections and open the door to waste-related research or storage. The transcript ends during that debate, before a final vote on SB 2159 is shown.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Mar 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- When they're evaluating projects for us, they're still being paid by the Urban Forestry Program because
- We also have photos in the evaluation, so hopefully that would be helpful to tell the stories.
- We're evaluating that right now and considering all options on how we can implement the regulations as
- Opened some issues that you now feel like you need more time to evaluate?
- We have personnel going out there now doing trail logs and evaluating the roads and buildings.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health Mar 3rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We are also in the process of strengthening our program evaluation systems.
- The impacts of the spending targets should be further evaluated by the legislature in order to ensure
- So during the vetting process, we evaluated these companies, and then we made the decision to select
- As mentioned, all of the uses have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- So I don’t know what we can say about formal evaluation planned. Yeah, absolutely.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Apr 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- How can our approach be evaluated holistically?
- But who would be evaluating whether there is any redundancy? Would it be the community college?
- But should there be future proposals for these different consolidation efforts, we'd have to evaluate
- This item is described as an evaluation, as research.
- In terms of the evaluation that's being proposed, could this also be done by the proposed Interagency
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s new Career Education Master Plan and related budget items. Labor Secretary Knox described the plan as an effort to reduce fragmentation across K-12, community colleges, workforce boards, and other systems by improving statewide and regional coordination, data sharing, skills-based hiring, career pathways, and wraparound supports such as child care, housing, food, and transportation. Members asked how success would be measured, how the plan would serve disconnected youth and adults, and whether the proposed data integration would rely on Cradle to Career; the secretary said it would. The Department of Finance said it was available to answer questions on the education side.
The committee then reviewed existing CTE funding and oversight. The LAO, CDE, and Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office described the major ongoing programs, including CTIG, Perkins, K-12 Strong Workforce, and Community College Strong Workforce, and noted that many programs overlap in purpose and administration. Members repeatedly raised concerns about duplication, annual applications and reporting burdens, lack of clear outcome metrics, and whether funding incentives should be better aligned to regional collaboration. CDE and the Chancellor’s Office said they support alignment and dual enrollment, and Finance and CDE said LCFF/local match dollars are part of the funding structure. The committee also discussed child care as a barrier to participation and the need for better tracking of enrollment, completion, and job outcomes.
On the consolidated application proposal, Finance proposed a study directing CDE to examine whether three long-standing CTE grant programs—Specialized Secondary Programs, CTIG, and California Partnership Academies—could be streamlined into a single application and reporting process. The LAO supported reducing administrative burden but noted that the largest programs, CTIG and K-12 Strong Workforce, were excluded from the proposal even though districts most often cite them as burdensome. CDE said it did not oppose the study but warned that statutory differences may limit consolidation. Members said the proposal should better address regional coordination, multi-year funding stability, and outcome measures rather than only simplifying paperwork.
Finally, the committee heard a proposal for a $5 million ongoing California Education Interagency Council. GovOps said the council would provide a neutral venue for statewide coordination across education and workforce systems. The LAO opposed the proposal, arguing that existing bodies already provide coordination, the proposal does not change agency incentives, and the council would lack authority to implement decisions. Members expressed mixed views, with some supporting a coordinating body and others questioning whether it would differ from past efforts. No votes were taken during the portions summarized here, and the committee indicated it would hold some items open for further discussion.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 5/27/26
Transcript Highlights:
- mentioned Eric completed, they evaluated mentioned Eric completed, they evaluated both<00:57:34.559
- >
dirt <00:57:53.280>deterrent Eric evaluated these two dirt deterrent Eric evaluated these - <01:10:15.679>
the components, but also uh evaluate the components, but also uh evaluate the - reports and closeout evaluations reports and closeout evaluations for<01:41:34.560>
monitoring - the evaluations were completed. the evaluations were completed.
Summary:
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council met on May 27, 2026, approved the January 7 minutes and the day’s agenda, and reported no conflicts of interest. The executive director gave staff updates, including introductions of new staff member Cara Castanza and DNR liaison Jason Co., both of whom were welcomed by the council. Members were also informed about three minor easement/conveyance matters in the packet, including a small Bowser easement impact with about $1,600 returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, a Minnesota Land Trust easement request involving a DNR trout stream easement, and an access easement revision in Itasca County. The council also noted several upcoming dedication events and a June field tour in southeast Minnesota beginning in Winona on June 16, with visits to Whitewater WMA, bluff prairie and stream sites, and a river segment if a boat is secured.
A major agenda item was a legislative session recap on the Outdoor Heritage Fund portion of Senate File 2077, the omnibus Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy, and Lands bill. Staff reported that all council recommendations were incorporated into the bill, which passed both chambers on May 17 and was expected to be signed by the governor. The fiscal year 2027 Outdoor Heritage Fund recommendations covered 53 programs totaling about $188.9 million, with the February forecast increasing the appropriation slightly so the final total was about $191.16 million; eligible programs were proportionately increased. Staff also highlighted a few changes made during the legislative process, including adjustments to the Roso Lake rehabilitation phase three project, the conservation partners legacy grant language, and statutory provisions affecting the council.
The recap also covered policy changes in the bill: a public member term limit of eight years, with a short vacancy exception and transition rules for current members; a revised executive director hiring process allowing the Legislative Coordinating Commission to provide support while preserving the council’s final hiring authority and permitting closed meetings for candidate discussions; and an extension of the Upper Mississippi River invasive carp deterrent design deadline to June 30, 2027. Members discussed the Roso Lake amendment at length, with Senator Lang and Representative Burkel explaining that the added delay and injunction-related language were intended to address local concerns and preserve the council’s process while litigation proceeds. The meeting ended without any additional formal action beyond receiving the updates and discussion.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Jun 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- To do that evaluation in our Office of Performance and Accountability and so that is how we're gonna
- All right, I think that next we have our program evaluation team coming up.
- We have Sarah Rang who's our program evaluator and we'll have Secretary Groginsky. both to provide us
- My name is Doctor Sarah Rang, and I'm a program evaluator with the LFC.
- And then reiterating a recommendation from the 2020 evaluation.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- So the concern is that appropriate mental health evaluations aren't mandated as part of those things
- mental health evaluations mental health evaluations aren't<01:24:35.560>
mandated <01:24:36.560 - <01:25:48.400>
looked <01:25:48.600>at <01:25:48.960>being <01:25:49.239>evaluated - <01:25:49.719>
at <01:25:49.840>a be looked at being evaluated at a be looked at being - evaluated at a hospital<01:25:50.520>
first <01:25:50.880>before <01:25:51.119>they
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Currently, we receive 38 requests for evaluations from private schools per month.
- The increase to $1.3 billion will be so helpful for school districts taking on increased evaluations
- We evaluate these students. We hold a review of this evaluation called an ARD meeting.
- We have experienced an increased evaluation load, special education evaluations, and expect that to increase
- This will allow more students to be evaluated and qualify for special education services.
Bills:
HB2
Keywords:
disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management
Summary:
The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language.
Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version.
The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Thu Feb 13, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- Also, to add a new section to amend Section 342G-104, subsection B3, to add 'evaluate' instead so it
- reads 'evaluate and promote recyclable market development activities.'
- Also, to add a new section to amend Section 342G-104, subsection B3, to add 'evaluate' instead so it
- reads 'evaluate and promote recyclable market development activities.'
- g-104 subsections B3 to add evaluate g-104 subsections B3 to add evaluate instead<01:03:19.960><
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on HB 818 HD1, which would establish the Waiawa Community Development District. The Attorney General’s office said the bill may not comply with requirements for a special fund, and DLNR asked for further amendments so lease revenues would remain with DLNR while it continues managing the lands. DLNR cited ongoing costs, including the Uncle Billy’s demolition debt and management needs at Banyan Drive/Banyan Country Club. HCDA/Waiawa representatives supported the bill, agreed that DLNR should keep lease revenues while it remains the land manager, and said a future transfer of land management would change where revenues should go. Members focused on whether removing lease revenue would undercut the bill and on how existing and future revenues should be allocated.
The committee then took up HB 338 HD1 and HB 339 HD1 on renewable energy-related utility transactions and procurement. Testimony came from the Consumer Advocate, the State Energy Office, the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric, IBEW Local 1260, Ulupono Initiative, and Life of the Land. Supporters generally backed the measures, while some asked for labor-related strengthening language. Discussion centered on how the PUC should handle competing bids or offers in utility merger or acquisition situations, with concerns raised about NDAs, timing, and whether the original version or amended language better allowed public and intervenor participation. A witness from Life of the Land argued that utilities should not negotiate under NDA in a way that blocks later public competition, and a PUC-related witness said the current language was changed from the original to address PUC testimony.
Finally, the committee heard HB 1467 HD1 on housing resiliency. OIP was not present, while B&F raised concerns about placing federal funds into a special fund, saying federal grant money should remain in a separate P fund for transparency, accountability, and single-audit compliance. State agencies and groups including OPSD, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported the measure. Testimony emphasized that many older roofs lack hurricane clips and that strengthening homes could reduce disaster sheltering and temporary housing costs. IBEW Local 1260 supported the bill but argued that building to current standards upfront is preferable to retrofitting later. Members questioned funding structure, eligibility, and whether the program should be needs-based; the bill was described as limited to households under 140% AMI. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- At the same time, pathways for clinicians to become authorized 5150 evaluators vary significantly across
- By making clear what is required to be designated as a 5150 evaluator, SB 16 will help counties recruit
- And I think that making sure that we re-evaluate as we go and make the improvements and tweaks that are
- This highlights the need for more oversight, re-evaluation of process, transparency, efficiency, and
- SB 874 requires DHS to take the following actions to evaluate and improve behavioral health treatment
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- How does the district evaluate the cumulative economic impact? Absolutely.
- How does the district evaluate the cumulative economic impact? The list goes on.
- workforce, the Air District, when we were evaluating how to best implement this rule, the phasing out
- of how we can... ...and I was part of that direction of an ongoing evaluation of how we can ensure that
- That's something that is part of your evaluation of the success of this.
OR
Oregon 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee On Legislative Audits 06/17/2026 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- talk about, oh, we need to perform an audit or we performed an audit, and they are referencing an evaluation
- An external audit is separate from that structure and can do an evaluation that is separate from the
- That's when other auditors come and evaluate me and my function and my standards every five years.
- Our audit objective was to evaluate whether the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has established
- Senator Lieber, members of the committee, and Senator Robinson, I think that's a constant evaluation
Summary:
The Joint Interim Committee on Legislative Audits met on June 17 for informational presentations. The Department of Administrative Services, through Chief Audit Executive Eli Ritchie, gave an overview of statewide internal audit requirements and the fiscal year 2025 report. He explained the difference between internal and external audit, described Oregon’s statutory and rule-based internal audit structure, and reported that 30 agencies had internal audit functions, with most meeting required standards. He said 73 audits and 49 advisory/consulting engagements were completed statewide, with strong compliance overall, though a few agencies were rebuilding audit committees after vacancies. No committee questions were raised after the presentation.
The Secretary of State’s Audits Division then presented its Government Waste Hotline annual report. Director Steve Bergman and audit manager Olivia Rekhed described changes made to align the hotline with statute, including renaming it the Government Waste Hotline, creating a review panel, improving anonymity protections, removing fraud reporting from the hotline’s scope, and adjusting reporting timelines. They said hotline volume increased modestly in 2025, most reports were referred elsewhere or closed for insufficient evidence, and two reports were substantiated, including questioned costs of about $856 for personal use of a state vehicle and about $2.9 million tied to the Preschool Promise program. Committee members asked about hotline staffing, cost, anonymity, and follow-up on findings; staff said the hotline is lightly resourced, uses a contracted intake service, and referrals or recommendations are followed up through management letters and later reviews.
The committee also heard an audit of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s safety inspections and asset tracking. The Secretary of State’s office reported that OPRD had not consistently conducted or documented quarterly OSHA safety inspections and had incomplete asset records, including missing acquisition dates and costs for many assets. The audit made eight recommendations covering safety inspection policies, asset management guidance, tagging, reconciliations, disposition controls, training, and a new asset management system; OPRD agreed to all recommendations. OPRD officials said they had already begun training staff, improving inspection procedures, and working toward a replacement asset system, while noting operational challenges from a large, dispersed park system and manual processes. Committee members asked about what kinds of assets are tracked, how tagging works, whether items were actually being lost, and how much tracking is necessary for low-value tools; OPRD said the main issue was inconsistent classification and documentation rather than widespread loss. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions taken.