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Committee orders substitute to have university systems compile audits and sends HR 80 to Education
Summary
After extensive debate about scope and cost, the committee adopted a substitute on House Resolution 80 directing university systems to compile fiscal audit information about certain programs and recommended recommitment to the House Education Committee for fuller review.
Representative Galley (presenting for Representative Carlson) introduced House Resolution 80, which asked the legislative auditor to conduct a comprehensive fiscal audit of state and federal funds expended by the Board of Regents and certain boards of supervisors and universities covering multiple years.
Debate turned on two major issues: (1) whether the resolution would duplicate an ongoing federal policy investigation and whether the committee should direct a state look‑back to years before the federal inquiry; and (2) who should perform the work and at what cost. The committee adopted a substitute that directs the individual university systems' internal auditors to prepare fiscal audits (collecting specified line items) and to submit those reports to the legislative auditor for compilation; sponsors said boards of supervisors are already statutorily required to perform internal audits. Members pressed whether asking systems to compile historic data back to 2020/2021 would impose unplanned workload and whether the resolution improperly asks universities to absorb new costs.
The committee considered motions to defer and to recommit. After votes on substitute motions, the committee reported HR 80 by substitute with recommendation that it be recommitted to the House Committee on Education, leaving the detailed substance for further consideration there.
Why it matters: The resolution seeks a consolidated fiscal picture of certain expenditures at universities identified in the substitute. Critics said a federal policy probe is under way and questioned the need for a state look‑back; sponsors said a separate fiscal audit is appropriate and that internal auditors have statutory obligations to produce the requested information.
Next steps: The committee reported HR 80 by substitute with recommendation to recommit to Education for further review and stakeholder participation.
