Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Legislative Audit Subcommittee
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UPEA monitored discussions during the Legislative Audit Subcommittee to prepare for the 2010 Legislative Session. This subcommittee reviews audits requested by legislators to help them make policy decisions. The media widely reported that audits revealed a major liability in the Medicaid Bureau of Program Integrity. However, the subcommittee also reviewed audits dealing with the courts, the Department of Technology Services, and DSPD. Overall, the audits revealed concerns with upper management and organizational communication.
However, the DSPD audit, A Review of Allegations Made Concerning The Division of Services for People with Disabilities, could not substantiate allegations submitted anonymously. Specifically, the letter alleges that the division’s forecasting process is inaccurate and that the current situation for privatizing Support Coordinators was not vetted properly.
The Legislative Auditor General suggested that further review of the allegations was unnecessary because the forecasting model the division used did not play a role in the legislators’ decision to cut the division’s budget. Furthermore, the auditors suggested that the division’s strategy for privatizing support coordinators was judicious in light of further budget cuts.
The letter also alleged conflicts of interest within the division. The auditors reviews all allegations and found that the Department of Human Services had examined each claim and determined how each claim could be managed. Given the department’s awareness and action, the auditors saw no reason to pursue the matter further.
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
The Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee met to discuss the newly restructured Privatization Policy Board. The board is made up of legislators, private employers, appointees from the Governor, and UPEA. The intent of the board is to make an inventory of state services and determine if those services compete with the private sector. Recommendations from the board will be sent to the governor.
Senator Goodfellow, who chairs the policy board, said the board will send a survey to state agencies with questions about services that could be privatized. Goodfellow said the board is not yet complete as they are waiting for the governor to appoint two more people.
Representative Craig Frank, R-Cedar Hills, who sponsored legislation to reorganize the Privatization Policy Board, stated that privatization is critical and wants to know the role government has in the private sector. Frank also wants to see the board move quickly and that he is anxious to see the proposals that will be sent to the Governor.
UPEA is tracking this issue very closely and will be attending all Privatization Policy Board meetings. Privatization is a big issue and we want all public employees to be informed about what is happening. We will continually post updates on http://www.utahpublicemployeesassociation.blogspot.com/ if new information becomes available.
