Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Audit Administration Comptroller topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel advances bill to streamline comptroller processing of certain human-resource-agency audits
Summary
Representative Stinnett’s bill would change how the comptroller pays and processes audits for human resource agencies that historically followed a different process; the committee heard comptroller office clarification and advanced the bill unanimously.
Representative Stinnett told the committee House Bill 140 would align the processing and payment of human resource agency (HRA) audits with how the comptroller handles most audits today. He said nine HRAs have operated under a different process since 1973 that requires the comptroller’s office to complete a review of working papers before releasing payment; the bill would permit the office to pay auditors upon completion of audit work while still retaining the right to review the audits.
Representative Butler and other members asked whether the requirement was a rule or a law; the sponsor said the relevant authority is a statute (identified in committee as Title 13 26 1 0 6 b). Committee members asked for clarification from the comptroller’s office, and Caroline Grassi, legislative director for the comptroller’s office, and another comptroller representative explained that current law requires the office to approve HRA audits before payment and that the bill would let the office pay when an audit is complete while continuing to review the work.
Committee members expressed confusion at times over the bill’s background and whether these nine entities had been overlooked; the sponsor and comptroller staff explained the audits have been handled under a separate process since 1973. After the comptroller’s office provided explanation, the committee voted to advance HB 140. The clerk reported 7 ayes and 0 noes; the ayes prevailed and the bill moves to the next available calendar of state and local government.
The committee’s recorded discussion focused on administrative processing and statutory references; the change is procedural and does not eliminate the comptroller’s review authority.
