[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6071884,"mediaKeyId","3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4","parentId",3034624,"title","Legislative auditors flag insider cybersecurity risks in Utah election systems; recommend hardware limits","audioSeconds",2110,"startMs",384000,"endMs",2494000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4&start=384&end=2494","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4/thumbnail_384000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6071884/Utah/Legislative-auditors-flag-insider-cybersecurity-risks-in-Utah-election-systems-recommend-hardware-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071884-5b8f9e09b41917ae1c38cb99a2028f08/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160757&Signature=YRhw3mYL9001Z-GyfbC5~pm1TsFY-JU74~bj2-cK5BXVuM2fI5CCn2O886xrVx8a1npmWf4nH6KEbSg4nB-BYJvMvMlBYfaADxRhjRBV5HEAGBV3vnttD2Ypwx5lz6sao0swiTM4ldKLTKXMmdmuGXJPv0vMoVZmqgvfUbXGg6q41-Xlt8cJ2yABuRlSrFLmdLVd~1CkoRIGBOH8pQYHzYkT6rqStZesEGFEBBDAUudagtx7A0poSXjgUk8qL3-AwnOVmCTQBIiTyw~GDSzav1CfZU8ChP7KbnlVaOPsgqIR6BMaphNq8Ji~d-w3bvEw95ymmi8aaFPUigxT8kR7LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah Legislature","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","Legislative auditors told the Legislative Audit Committee that hands‑on testing of election equipment identified cybersecurity weaknesses that increase the risk of insider threats and operational disruption, though auditors said they found no evidence that vote tallies had been changed.

The auditors, Jesse Martinson and Jake Dinsdale of the Office of the Legislative Auditor General, told the committee they inspected voting hardware and software in multiple counties, scanned network traffic and wireless signals, and reviewed internal configuration settings and physical ports. “Because of the sensitive nature of the concerns, we’re not gonna go into great detail about specifically what we found,” Dinsdale said, adding that the report’s recommendations target vulnerabilities identified in testing.

Why it matters: The auditors emphasized that Utah’s current layered protections — offline voting equipment, software certification and post‑election audits — reduce the likelihood that an attack would change election outcomes without detection. But they said procedural lapses and hardware features retained in some systems increase risk.

Key findings: Auditors reported (1) some voting servers had wireless networking components even when configured not to connect; (2) some user accounts had broader access rights than necessary; (3) election day observations showed paper lists of usernames and passwords kept near election workstations; and (4) a small number of election computers were stored in public or accessible spaces rather than secured vaults. Jake Dinsdale said the presence of wireless components “gives you the capability to connect,” and the auditors recommended the Legislature consider prohibiting wireless hardware in voting equipment.

County response and context: Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor, speaking for Utah’s 29 county clerks, said clerks welcome the independent review and that many of the protections the auditors cited are already in place. “Voting systems are not connected to the internet,” Hatch said. He described protective measures including hash validation, multi‑factor authentication, security cameras, public logic‑and‑accuracy testing and post‑election audits. Hatch also said counties have begun implementing the audit recommendations, and that the specific unsecured computers the auditors photographed were not part of the ballot scanning/tabulation system.

Committee questions and follow up: Committee members asked whether the vulnerabilities implied a realistic chance of changing vote totals. Auditors and Hatch said post‑election audits and reconciliation processes are designed to surface tampering or discrepancies and would likely raise red flags if a change occurred. Auditors characterized the primary risk as an “insider” threat — someone with credentials and access — rather than a remote external hack.

Outcome and next steps: President Adams moved to refer the performance audit of election cybersecurity to the Government Operations Committee as lead and to the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee as the review committee. The committee approved the referral by voice vote. The auditors recommended statutory change to prohibit wireless components in election equipment; the report also includes operational recommendations (access control, credential practices, physical security and training) that auditors said counties should implement and that the Legislature may wish to consider.

Ending: Auditors said they will follow up on the recommendations and that the Legislative Audit Office and the lieutenant governor’s office will continue oversight and training work with counties.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Legislative Audit Subcommittee - April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Legislative auditors told the Legislative Audit Committee that hands‑on testing of election equipment identified cybersecurity weaknesses that increase the risk of insider threats and operational disruption, though auditors said they found no evidence that vote tallies had been changed.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6071881,"Audit finds gains for some workforce programs but flags Medicaid unwinding and access delays at DWS",3995,2515000,6510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4&start=2515&end=6510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4/thumbnail_2515000.jpg","/articles/6071881/Utah/Audit-finds-gains-for-some-workforce-programs-but-flags-Medicaid-unwinding-and-access-delays-at-DWS","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071881-9e4d72c6c72ee93c6b20de24551f5ee8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160757&Signature=XiFfEDSfiEy-aADVdTetu9hbsktBSErfwMhq2aYwcwUcZx9Mcjn0WkE4xqSOZyin7QfXSzur~O26wP04nq0wriWjXDrLdPUBn6zYzfn7DzVtJGg4RhD3lGbotjAwgCNtWSpgqeiC8l2UotQMOA41yMMCZfXu3jAJJAOknIIShVU5O9Jg2Surmo99rtTm2SyIEtmSReHsd3JctRZ~LFqVguf8HYH4hb4xTQvFFhVcSSToqL9HoOOYb1g4VFHnz9Dvldlwg4fAKjP1nxsQDVx2WvmizrQJeibyMkRVbxIJC1U22W6i8ialvcb01itSVbhExDg8j10PLJpQiV45azeu~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative auditors presented a systematic audit of the Utah Department of Workforce Services, finding measurable wage gains for some program participants but noting service access problems during Medicaid unwinding and uneven customer service capacity.

The audit, presented by Leah Blevins and August Lehman of the Office of the Legislative Auditor General, followed cohorts through workforce development programs and found median percentage wage increases for participants in the range discussed in the presentation, but also that even large relative increases often left annual earnings below a living wage. “Even the ... 262% increase ... went from $6,000 a year to $24,000 a year. And so that’s not a living wage,” Lehman said.

Why it matters: The audit aims to identify where DWS can better use data to improve outcomes, reduce long phone wait times and lower rates of procedural Medicaid termination after the federal continuous‑coverage requirement ended.

Key findings and recommendations: Auditors recommended that DWS (1) analyze the characteristics of participants who achieved living wages to replicate successful practices; (2) address high procedural Medicaid terminations that resulted from nonresponse during the unwinding process and consider models other states used (including potential waivers); (3) meet the legislative target call wait time of 18 minutes (the report showed average wait times reached about 40 minutes at points during unwinding); and (4) allow longer session persistence for online applications (Utah’s portal currently times out after one day whereas other states give multiple days).

DWS response: Casey Cameron, executive director of the Department of Workforce Services, told the committee the agency concurs with the recommendations and called several of them “good customer experience and access recommendations.” Cameron said auditors worked alongside DWS staff and that the department will pursue research and operational changes recommended in the report and use scheduled trainings to improve statewide implementation.

Committee discussion and follow up: Committee members sought more detail about staff capacity and whether performance metrics prioritize throughput over individualized service. Auditors and DWS acknowledged that dual roles for phone staff (intake and eligibility determination) contribute to longer service times and that staffing models and scheduling could be adjusted.

Outcome and next steps: President Adams moved to refer the systematic audit of the Department of Workforce Services to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee as the lead committee and to the Social Services Appropriations Committee as the review committee; that referral was approved by voice vote. Later in the meeting President Adams moved to amend the referral so the review committee would be the Economic and Community Development Appropriations Subcommittee; that substitute motion was approved by voice vote. Auditors recommended follow‑up on the Medicaid unwinding and monitoring of implementation of call‑time and application‑persistence recommendations.

Ending: DWS said it will schedule training for county and field staff to implement the recommendations and that the department agrees with the audit’s recommendations to improve customer access and data use.","Legislative auditors presented a systematic audit of the Utah Department of Workforce Services, finding measurable wage gains for some program participants but noting service access problems during Medicaid unwinding and uneven customer service capacity.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6071871,"Audit praises Alpine schools’ strategic plan and administrator training, urges focus on achievement gaps and campus security",1288,5152000,6440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4&start=5152&end=6440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4/thumbnail_5152000.jpg","/articles/6071871/Utah/Audit-praises-Alpine-schools-strategic-plan-and-administrator-training-urges-focus-on-achievement-gaps-and-campus-security","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071871-86a9e1493f9677889e88cb4bdf843dc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160757&Signature=VGVU7BNlk-WMetrE4USBSw-CUTYsyD1xN-h2uWUOeFuVoa2Tu3eQCvLo0ok8QRXE1P0xQQBtzB6M~lQvuSDrPSEsT0mCkZGVRbBYRfC5K5E3ygtM8H3G5XSProndxQkzhVl3kRx2UjGdOQ99CuNHl1vTWgo8IJF1eiFtYaaylBsOGkqDLS4FLN4blWODwjPj9EqKwHPIgFYRscH5HZEwsND3VVFBcoWlGAsUJBMBtWJ5alFrb6L5H9LqUpd4NEIeBNQKUC2Bb96pnPMuM5M9~tqsLQ4rYPy41XEBVd7b8fYnSVLT~IBVs63tC04k1Xh0wSFYK7CP34MI28B6UonsWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Auditors reviewing Alpine School District told the Legislative Audit Committee that the district achieves above‑average proficiency but should target persistent achievement gaps, clarify bullying and safety policies where campuses share public space, and tighten some financial reporting conventions.

Darren Underwood and Lindsay James of the Office of the Legislative Auditor General presented findings from the systematic LEA audit of Utah’s largest district. The report commended Alpine for district‑level focus and implementation of a strategic plan (the district’s “coherence map”) and for administrator mentoring and professional learning communities. “We think that it is imperative that we look to school administrators and teachers to find what is happening best and then replicate that where we can,” auditors said.

Why it matters: Alpine serves tens of thousands of students across many schools; auditors said replicating school practices that narrow gaps could improve outcomes across the district and that improvements in signage and school‑municipality agreements can reduce safety exposures at campuses that open onto public parks.

Key findings and recommendations: Auditors found (1) Alpine outperforms peer districts in proficiency but still falls short of legislative targets in some subjects; (2) some schools show narrower achievement gaps while others remain wide — auditors recommended analyzing causes and setting targeted school goals; (3) administrator mentoring and professional learning communities are strengths that should be expanded; (4) five campuses had open access to adjacent public parks and auditors recommended district‑level coordination with municipalities to secure those sites; and (5) payroll reporting uses inconsistent job title conventions across districts and auditors suggested common naming conventions and shared financial reporting between USBE and the State Auditor to improve transparency.

District response: Superintendent Shane Farnsworth and Board President Julie King said they welcome the audit and agree with its recommendations. Farnsworth highlighted a district multilingual task force that supports schools with rising multilingual populations and said targeted interventions can yield double‑digit percentage gains at schools that implement best practices. Board President King emphasized the district’s focus on continuous improvement and said the audit provides a useful baseline as Alpine prepares to split into three districts.

Outcome and follow up: President Adams moved to refer the systematic audit of Alpine School District to the Education Interim Committee as the lead committee and to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee as the review committee; the committee approved the referral by voice vote. Auditors recommended the Legislature consider aligning payroll reporting conventions and directed the Audit Office to follow up on implementation of school‑safety and strategic‑plan recommendations.

Ending: Alpine officials said they will use the audit’s findings to inform the transition planning for the district split and to scale effective school practices.","An audit of Alpine School District highlighted strong overall proficiency rates and district‑level strategic planning, recommended scaling practices that narrow achievement gaps, improving school safety where district property abuts public parks, clarifying bullying procedures and reconciling payroll reporting conventions. Alpine officials said",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6071876,"Audit urges better data sharing and coordination to narrow Utah behavioral health workforce gaps",1698,3394000,5092000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4&start=3394&end=5092","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034624-2d658febc5e6ff52a7f9e18cf54606e4/thumbnail_3394000.jpg","/articles/6071876/Utah/Audit-urges-better-data-sharing-and-coordination-to-narrow-Utah-behavioral-health-workforce-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071876-21d5503c697ad10e01594b996cb0a804/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160757&Signature=UOKJqsav-pYe8IZsWCZodUg2whmC-hNzVwgqWO83wN-mtHWtPrtbGPglX4YSbVrboi-VIVM10cxcab9VpQj908-O7SA4zaUzXa-jtNotMFfWx-K3Xb7ytTwYLWa3uCvHUpWlcYTqVtAcsnQOz0Bky1aGexJ34aqvCvhs1ZITdxMGaO0vaHZK8TP8OomfUAk2G-9K1pPMPDXcFGXv0aWP-R0uj5eGoPQwNyqRV7rJ1lZC8EjTKpjQNg2oCRwBiPQk-B-qJxF-4AGBUPCPMV-fy7IYzf1v87TPcMqJ-kmjTFYmU6UiAa~3pFd5NsV8OT2d5kFPpYCKndqBl95DlBpjrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative auditors told the committee that Utah faces a substantial shortage of behavioral health providers and that state entities studying workforce supply lack consistent data and formal coordination to measure progress.

Leah Blevins and Mackenzie Cantlin presented the performance audit, saying multiple state bodies — including the Health Workforce Advisory Council, its information center and the Behavioral Health Commission — collect workforce information but that reporting is not yet aligned to measure statewide progress. “There’s definitely an opportunity to increase coordination, more formal reporting structure among these entities, and to improve data sharing and data collection as well,” Blevins said.

Why it matters: The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification has previously documented a shortfall of thousands of behavioral health providers. Auditors said better data and coordinated goals are necessary to measure whether recruitment, training and paraprofessional programs actually reduce shortages and improve access.

Key findings and recommendations: The audit recommended (1) stronger, consistent statewide data collection and sharing to quantify vacancies and retention (especially for paraprofessionals including peer supports and case managers); (2) clearer roles, goals and metrics for the school‑based mental health grant so the state can assess whether funded positions produce intended services; and (3) additional study of private‑sector access, including “ghost provider” testing that found 70% of called commercial‑network listings were unavailable for appointments in the audit’s test sample.

State response: Tracy Gruber, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, said DHHS concurs with the recommendations and that the department will work with the Behavioral Health Commission and partners to improve data sharing and coordination. Tamara Atala, vice chair of the Behavioral Health Commission, said the commission’s membership — which includes public and private representatives — is positioned to coordinate with insurers and other stakeholders to improve workforce data and pathways.

Committee discussion and context: Senators and representatives noted the need to grow paraprofessional pipelines and to align higher education and credentialing to produce more counselors and peers. Auditors and commission members discussed using the All‑Payer Claims Database and commission authority to study private‑sector access.

Outcome and next steps: President Adams moved to refer the performance audit of the Utah Behavioral Health Workforce to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee as the lead committee; the committee approved the referral by voice vote. Auditors and DHHS said they will implement recommendations and that the Behavioral Health Commission will continue work on coordination, data and workforce pathways.

Ending: Auditors recommended continued monitoring of workforce indicators and that the commission and DHHS report progress to the Legislature.","A Legislative Audit Office review found fragmented data and coordination among state entities tracking behavioral health workforce shortages and recommended improved statewide data collection, defined goals and clearer reporting. The Department of Health and Human Services and the new Behavioral Health Commission concurred and pledged follow‑up.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Legislative auditors flag insider cybersecurity risks in Utah election systems; recommend hardware limits

Audit finds gains for some workforce programs but flags Medicaid unwinding and access delays at DWS

Audit praises Alpine schools’ strategic plan and administrator training, urges focus on achievement gaps and campus security

Audit urges better data sharing and coordination to narrow Utah behavioral health workforce gaps