Expanded audit authority advances

Lawmakers voted to advance a bill Feb. 11 that would give the Legislative Audit Office authority to conduct performance audits of two judicial branch offices.

Introduced by Syracuse Sen. Dan Watermeier, LB1016 would subject the Office of Probation Administration and the Office of Public Guardian to performance audits by the Legislative Audit Office. The office reviews state agency programs to ensure they effectively implement the Legislature’s intent.

Watermeier said the bill would authorize legislative branch audits of the two offices but not mandate them. He said other state offices have access to similar judicial branch programs.

Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell spoke in support of the bill. She said it is critical for the Legislature to have the authority to audit the offices, which deal with child welfare and currently sit outside the Legislature’s oversight.

“I fully believe that the Office of Probation [Administration] is working diligently to work out the services that they are providing,” she said. “But should there be a problem that the Legislature sees, it would have that oversight through the committee.”

Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha also supported the bill. He said LB1016 would give legislative committees better information on how the offices operate, which would help the Legislature budget for the agencies and ensure they are successful.

A technical amendment was adopted 26-0 and the bill advanced to select file on a 35-0 vote.