state agencies;
continuation; committee assignment
HB 2212 requires all agency continuation legislation regarding recommendations of the committee of reference to be assigned to the Senate Government Committee, the House Retirement and Government Operations Committee or their successors and any other standing committees.
The sunset review process was established in 1978 to evaluate state agencies, review the purpose and functions of state agencies and determine if their continuation, revision, consolidation or termination is warranted. Generally the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), the Committees on Reference (COR), the legislative staff, JLBC staff, the agency staff and any interested parties work together in the process of evaluating and recommending the continuation of state agencies. The sunset process takes place each time an agency comes up for review, which is not to exceed every ten years. The three major entities involved in the sunset review process include the OAG, JLAC and COR. The JLAC assigns the sunset review audit to the OAG or the COR and oversees agency compliance with the audit findings and recommendations. The OAG conducts audits to measure the agency’s public accountability of programs and funds. The COR oversees the sunset audit if JLAC assigns the audit to the COR and holds public hearings to discuss and hear testimony about the agency under review and submits the final sunset review report.