In one fashion or another, all state legislatures exercise oversight of state agencies and programs. They do this in a variety of ways using standing committees, rules review, auditing offices, sunset provisions, and more. 

On this episode of the podcast, we dive into the topic of oversight with three guests who all have different vantage points to observe the process. They include Kade Minchey, auditor general with the Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General; Holly Trice, registrar of regulations in Virginia and on the staff of the Virginia Joint Commission on Administrative Rules; and Will Clark, who works with NCSL's Center for Legislative Strengthening. 

Will Clark started our discussion with an explanation of some of the basics of oversight, the approaches used, and the tools available to legislators.

Kade Minchey explained how his office in Utah uses performance audits to help agencies improve and how the legislative committee responsible for audits uses the information. 

Holly Trice talked about the rules review process in Virginia, how the legislature and executive branch work together, and how they afford all legislators and the public a chance to weigh in. 

Resources

• The Best Practice Handbook: Root Cause Analysis and Driving Results, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General
• The Best Practice Handbook: A Practical Guide to Excellence for Utah Government, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General
• A Performance Audit of Utah State Correctional Facility: An Examination of Staffing, Culture, Safety, and Security, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General
• A Performance Audit of Utah’s Behavioral Health System: A Case for Governance, Strategic Planning, and Accountability, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General
• A Performance Audit of Utah’s Election System and Controls, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General
• A Performance Audit of Utah’s Water Management: Ensuring Data Integrity, Program Best Practices, and Comprehensive Water Planning, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General
• Separation of Powers: An Overview, NCSL
• Separation of Powers: Legislative Oversight, NCSL
• Virginia Register of Regulations
• Virginia Regulatory Town Hall