Finance panel unanimously advances audits of air pollution and unemployment divisions

The House Finance Committee voted 12–0 to advance Senate Bill 306 to the Committee of the Whole after sponsors said the bill will require the state auditor to perform two specific performance audits: one focused on the Air Pollution Control Division within the Department of Public Health and Environment and one focused on the Division of Unemployment Insurance within the Department of Labor and Employment.

Representative Taggart, the bill sponsor, described the measure as a straightforward request that the auditor determine whether each division “complies with statute and statutory purpose” and to assess the divisions’ staffing, funding, accessibility to stakeholders and other measures the bill enumerates. Taggart said the audits will produce written reports…