Audit committee asks administration to reexamine travel policy after hotline review

The Legislative Audit Committee on Sept. 11 voted to ask the Department of Administration to reexamine its travel reimbursement policy after staff and public commenters raised concerns about how airplane opportunity costs are handled. Sen. Pat Flowers moved the committee to write the letter; the motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

The action followed a presentation on the Accountability, Compliance and Transparency hotline (24ACTHOTLINE) by Kenneth E. Varns, the committee’s legal counsel. Committee members questioned staff about possible documentation errors, reimbursement to a former commerce director and whether certain expenses were improper or illegitimate. Legislative Auditor Angus Maciver discussed employment agreements and audit timeframes as members probed next steps for oversight.

Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, offered public comment during the segment. Larry Flynn of the Department of Transportation also spoke during the discussion, prompting Sen. Flowers to note policy problems and urge a review of state travel rules.

The committee’s request asks the Department of Administration to ‘‘reexamine their travel policy to amend the opportunity costs for airplanes,’’ per the motion. The committee did not specify a deadline for the department’s response at the meeting; members deferred several technical questions to agency staff for later reply.

The committee’s letter is intended as a policy review request rather than a rule change; further staff follow-up or a formal audit referral may follow depending on the department’s response and any supplemental information the committee receives.