Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Audit Selection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislative Post Audit Committee approves audits on property tax exemptions, university donations, KU Med/Vet admissions and SNAP/TANF reviews
Summary
The committee approved a slate of new audits and conceptual follow‑ups, including a full review of property tax exemptions and donations to public universities, a KU Med/K‑State vet admissions review, and SNAP/TANF investigations; several motions were voice‑approved with no recorded roll‑call tallies.
The Legislative Post Audit Committee approved multiple new performance audits and a conceptual follow‑up today, authorizing staff to proceed with reviews that lawmakers said address high‑priority fiscal and regulatory questions.
The committee approved a full audit of property tax exemptions and real property donated to public universities (item 18L). The scope will examine the estimated amount of foregone property tax revenue due to exemptions and quantify real property donated to Kansas’s seven public universities that is exempt from property tax. Senator Tyson moved approval of 18L; Senator Thompson seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.
Representative Williams also asked staff to pursue a conceptual follow‑up focused on industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) and their total fiscal impact (sales and property tax abatements). The committee approved that conceptual audit motion by voice vote; staff will draft scope language and coordinate with members for finalization.
The committee accepted several other audit requests:
- 2L — KU Medical School and K‑State Veterinary School admissions processes. Senators raised workforce concerns (particularly shortages of large‑animal veterinarians) and asked whether admissions policies create preferential treatment. Motion by Senator Tyson, second by Senator Thompson; approved by voice vote.
- 11L — State Fire Marshal inspection requirements and effects on facilities, including child care and residential facilities. Motion by Senator Thompson, second by Representative Tarwater; approved by voice vote after members discussed scope and possible narrowing to remove an interstate comparison objective to shorten estimated audit time.
- 19L — SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) review to examine causes of DCF’s overpayment and underpayment rates and the degree of benefit misuse. Motion by Chairman Francis, second by Senator Thompson; approved by voice vote. Committee members noted ongoing federal letters about SNAP payment error rates as a driver for the review.
- 12L — TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) process review, amended in committee discussion to expand scope to include potential misuse of cash assistance, citizenship verification processes mandated by state law, and other fraud indicators. Senator Tyson moved the expanded scope; Senator Thompson seconded and the motion carried by voice vote.
- 17E — A staff‑initiated follow‑up to evaluate whether selected agencies have implemented previous audit recommendations (including audits addressing groundwater management districts, election security recommendations, and motor vehicle sales tax). The committee approved authorizing follow‑up work; motion by Chairman Francis, second by Senator Tyson; approved by voice vote.
Committee members discussed but did not approve a separate new audit specifically focused only on the low‑income student scholarship tax credit program; instead members asked Legislative Post Audit and legislative research to provide updated figures and to include related follow‑up in other scheduled items.
The committee also approved the meeting’s consent calendar, which accepted the performance audits presented earlier in the session (including the Base 1 grant audit and two IT security audits) and minutes from prior meetings by voice vote with no objections.
Ending: Legislative Post Audit staff will draft scopes for the newly approved audits, including the conceptual IRB follow‑up, and circulate proposed work plans and timelines for committee review; the committee tentatively scheduled its next meeting for July 21 to consider upcoming audit products.
