ST. PAUL – State Government Finance and Policy Committee Chairman and House Majority Whip, Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia), today announced plans to introduce legislation on the first day of the 2025 legislative session aimed at enhancing legislative oversight of state agency accountability.
The proposed legislation establishes a new process to track the implementation of recommendations made by the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). Each year, the OLA conducts financial audits of state agencies and evaluates the management and effectiveness of taxpayer-funded programs. These audits often include recommendations for addressing issues identified during their review.
“Rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies has been one of my top priorities in the legislature, and it will continue to be a major focus during my tenure as chairman of the State Government Finance Committee,” said Nash. “When budget decisions are made, lawmakers must have clear and transparent information about which agencies are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. This bill ensures more accountability and provides lawmakers with important information to guide funding decisions.”
The legislation adds an additional layer of accountability and oversight to the OLA audit process by creating a report, termed “fraud notes”, that details whether an agency or program administrator has implemented any recommendations identified by the OLA during the prior five years in a financial audit, program evaluation, or special review. It also requires the OLA to have an opportunity to present its report’s findings in a public hearing before the committee acts on legislation appropriating money to the entity.
Nash continued, “My bill is a straightforward way to provide more information to lawmakers during the budget process and to add additional accountability to agencies to make sure that they are following through with recommendations made by the OLA.”
Rep. Nash noted that the “fraud notes” report does not preclude the legislature from appropriating money to an agency that has failed to implement recommendations from the OLA, it simply provides additional information to lawmakers as they make funding decisions.
Click here to watch Rep. Nash briefly discuss the proposal during a press conference on Monday morning.
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