Audit subcommittee recommends PSEO, MPCA feedlot and mortuary science evaluations; schedules paid-leave review for fall

The Legislative Audit Commission evaluation subcommittee on July 1 recommended three program evaluations to the full audit commission and preselected a fourth for the fall. The subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend a review of postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) and, in the same meeting, recommended that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency(MPCA) feedlot permitting and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) mortuary science program be added to the slate of topics the full commission will consider.

Jody Munson Rodriguez, deputy legislative auditor and leader of the program evaluation division, told the panel that the spring 2026 topic-selection survey drew 139 legislative respondents and that “postsecondary enrollment options had the highest number with a 107 votes,” a result staff flagged as a strong indicator of legislative interest but not a binding instruction. She told members some topics overlap administratively and cautioned that several evaluations may need to be staggered so one agency is not overburdened.

Debate among subcommittee members focused largely on timing and feasibility. Munson Rodriguez advised that Minnesota Paid Family Leave had been in operation for only about six months and would likely benefit from a year of data before a robust evaluation; she said if the subcommittee placed it on the list now, staff would likely delay the start until the spring so the report would be based on a fuller year of information. Representative Anderson moved to include selection of the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy as a board/committee item but to delay its commencement until the fall; that amendment passed unanimously.

After the staff briefing and member discussion, Senator Rest moved to recommend PSEO; Representative Anderson offered the amendment to include the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy with a fall start; and Representative Lee moved to recommend MDH mortuary science and MPCA feedlot permitting. Each motion passed on roll-call votes with identical recorded support: Senator Dibble (chair), Senator Drazkowski, Senator Rest, Representative Anderson, Representative Lee and Representative Quam all voted in favor of the motions when taken.

Senator Drazkowski later moved that Minnesota Paid Family Leave be scheduled for the subcommittee's fall selection slot (effectively preselecting it for fall consideration). Members discussed timing and the staff noted that topics selected in the fall often do not commence until the following winter or spring due to ramp-up time; the motion to schedule the paid-leave review for the fall also passed unanimously.

The subcommittee's recommendations will be forwarded to the full Legislative Audit Commission at its meeting next week for final action. The subcommittee adjourned following the votes.