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Senate tables bill seeking legislative performance audit of State Bar
Summary
The Senate Finance and Claims Committee debated House Bill 65, which would authorize a legislative performance audit of the State Bar of Montana; opponents said the audit duplicates existing private audits and lacks return on investment, and the committee tabled the bill after a roll call showed more opposition than support.
Representative Lee Deming opened House Bill 65 describing a $200,000 fiscal note based on 2,082 audit hours and arguing transparency and accountability justify a performance audit of the State Bar of Montana. Bruce Spencer, representing the State Bar, opposed the bill and said the bar already contracts for financial audits and that the license tax it helps collect nets about $131,950 for the general fund—less than the proposed audit cost.
Angus McKeever, the legislative auditor, explained that a legislative performance audit examines operations and policy questions (not duplicative financial statement audits) and said whether the division has authority to audit a nongovernmental nonprofit tied to the judicial branch is legally unsettled. Committee members raised concerns about resource priorities for the audit division and possible constitutional or scope issues.
In executive action the committee debated and then tabled House Bill 65 after a roll call showed 10 yes and 12 no; Chair reversed the vote to table and the bill was tabled in Senate Finance and Claims.
