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MINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT SUBCOMMITTEE
Tuesday,
June 16, 2026
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4:00 p.m.
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445 State Capitol
Members Present:
President J. Stuart Adams, Co-chair
Speaker Mike Schultz, Co-chair
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Casey Snider
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Staff Present:
Kade R. Minchey, Auditor General
Jesse Martinson, Senior Audit Supervisor
Brian J. Dean, Deputy Auditor General
Donna Hernandez, Office Manager
Darin R. Underwood, Deputy Auditor General
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found
at www.le.utah.gov.
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| President Adams called the meeting to order at 4:12 pm. |
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| MOTION:Speaker Schultz moved to approve the minutes of the April 16th minutes.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
6 |
Nays-
0 |
Abs-
0 |
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Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
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|
|
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| MOTION:Speaker Schultz made a motion to prioritize a comprehensive audit of Utah's homeless
service system. The scope of the audit should include any oversight function, system,
or program that affects homelessness, including, but not limited to, the criminal
justice and behavioral health systems. The audit should specifically review metrics
that measure successful outcomes.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
6 |
Nays-
0 |
Abs-
0 |
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Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
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| 2.Audit Report Presentations |
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| Mr. Darin Underwood, Deputy Auditor General, introduced A Limited Review of School
Districts' Impact on Student Learning (Report 2026-10). |
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| A Limited Review of School Districts' Impact on Student Learning (Report 2026-10) |
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| Mr. Underwood and Mr. Nick Varney, Senior Audit and Operations Supervisor, presented
the findings of the audit. |
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| Mr. Varney responded to a question from Representative Romero regarding the factors
used in the data. |
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| Mr. Varney responded to a question from Senator Escamilla regarding the four factors
included when grouping the data. |
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| Mr. Varney responded to a follow-up question from Senator Escamilla regarding the
diversity of the students and the comparisons within the state of Utah. |
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| Mr. Underwood also responded to Senator Escamilla's question regarding how the data
is being used. |
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| Mr. Underwood introduced Public Education K-3 Reading programs (Report 2026-12). |
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| Public Education K-3 Reading Programs: Analyzing Outcome Measures, Data Quality, and
Student Progress (Report 2026-12) |
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| Mr. Underwood and Ms. Lindsay Jaynes, Senior Audit Supervisor, presented the findings
of the audit. |
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| Speaker Schultz commented on the impact COVID had on students in the state of Utah. |
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| President Adams commented that the impact would have been greater without the teachers
continuing to teach online. |
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| Speaker Schultz and President Adams acknowledged Superintendent Jeff Stephens led
the nation in getting schools back open. |
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| Mr. Underwood and Ms. Jaynes continued to present the findings of the audit. |
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| Ms. Jaynes responded to a question from Representative Romero regarding whether income
was a factor in the results. |
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| Mr. Underwood followed up on Representative Romero's question regarding school's with
large population of disadvantaged students |
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| Mr. Underwood and Ms. Jaynes continued to present the findings of the audit. |
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| Speaker Schultz commented on the importance of principals, and the importance of a
good principal. |
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| Ms. Molly Hart, Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah State Board
of Education (USBE), Ms. Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association
(USSA) Executive Director, and Mr. Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of
Higher Education (UHSE), responded to the findings of the audit. |
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| Ms. Cunningham responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding the impact class
size has on the reading outcomes. |
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| Speaker Schultz commented on how well our public education and universities are doing
and that Utah has the best education in the nation and thanked all three organizations
on the work they are doing. |
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| MOTION:Speaker Schultz moved to refer Public Reading K-3 Reading Programs (Report 2026-12)
to the Education Interim Committee as the Lead Committee and to the Public Education
Appropriations Subcommittee as the Review Committee.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
6 |
Nays-
0 |
Abs-
0 |
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Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
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| 3.Audit Report Presentations |
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| Mr. Jesse Martinson, Audit Manager, introduced A Performance Audit of the Salt Lake
City Airport Cybersecurity (Report 2026-11). |
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| A Performance Audit of Salt Lake City Airport Cybersecurity: Opportunities to Improve
Leadership and Risk Management (Report 2026-11) |
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| Mr. Martinson, Mr. Christopher McClelland, Cyber Security Audit Supervisor, and Mr.
Brandon Checketts, Performance Auditor, presented the findings of the audit. |
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| Mr. McClelland responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding if there were
controls in place at the time of the cyberattack that were not being used. |
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| Speaker Schultz commented that this sounds like a leadership issue. |
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| Mr. Martinson, Mr. McClelland, and Mr. Checketts continued to present the findings
of the audit. |
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| Mr. McClelland responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding the timing of
hiring a third party and internal auditors for risk management purposes. |
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| Mr. Martinson stated that no audits have been done since the cyberattack. |
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| Mr. Martinson, Mr. McClelland, and Mr. Checketts continued to present the findings
of the audit. |
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| Mr. McClelland and Mr. Martinson responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding
the responsibility of leadership relating to risk management. |
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| Mr. Martinson responded to a question from Senator Escamilla regarding the governance
of SLC Airport and the response to the cyberattack. |
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| Mr. McClelland responded to a question from Senator Escamilla regarding the action
taken after the cyber attack. |
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| Senator Escamilla commented on the framework of governance and leadership relating
to the Salt Lake City Airport. |
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| Mrs. Rachel Otto, Mr. Zach Posner, Chief Information Officer, Salt Lake City, and
Mr. Bill Wyatt, Executive Director, Salt Lake City Department of Airports, responded
to the findings of the audit. |
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| Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Posner responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding cybersecurity
assessments not being done. |
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| Speaker Schultz commented on the fact that audits help expose problems. |
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| Senator Escamilla commented on the importance of having plans in place for cybersecurity
assessments moving forward. |
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| President Adams commented on the airport being a critical part of our economy and
this is a high priority for the Legislature. |
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| MOTION:Speaker Schultz moved to refer A Performance Audit of the Salt Lake City Airport Cybersecurity
(Report 2026-11) to the Public utilities, Energy, and Technology interim Committee
as the lead committee and to the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee as the review
committee.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-0-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
5 |
Nays-
0 |
Abs-
1 |
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Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
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Rep. C. Snider
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| 4.Audit Report Presentations |
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| Mr. Nick Varney, Senior Audit and Operations Supervisor, introduced A Performance
Audit of Enrollment Fraud in Higher Education (Report 2026-16). |
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| A Performance Audit of Enrollment Fraud in Higher Education: Balancing Access and
Security (Report 2026-16) |
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| Mr. Varney, Mr. Joe Hadfield, Lead Performance Auditor, and Ms. Abi Maccabee, Performance
Auditor, presented the findings of the audit. |
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| Mr. Hadfield responded to a question from Speaker Schulz regarding the possible losses
mentioned in the report actually happening. |
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| Mr. Varney responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding the differences
in fraudulent application between institutions 1-3 and 4-6. |
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| Ms. Maccabee responded to a question from Senator Escamilla regarding standardizing
processes regarding the balance for student access and statewide processes. |
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| Mr. Hadfield responded to a question from Senator Escamilla regarding the amounts
of fraudulent enrollments and how that is reported. |
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| Mr. Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) responded
to the findings of the audit. |
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| Mr. Landward responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding institution 1,
2, and 3 needing help. |
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| Mr. Landward responded to a question from Senator Escamilla regarding penalties that
exist for cyber criminals. |
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| President Adams commented on the effort to keep higher education accessible and affordable
for Utah students. |
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| MOTION:Speaker Schultz moved to refer to A Performance Audit of Enrollment Fraud in Higher
Education (Report 2026-16) to the Education Interim Committee as the lead committee
and to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee as the review committee.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-0-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
5 |
Nays-
0 |
Abs-
1 |
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Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
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Rep. C. Snider
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| 5.Audit Report Presentations |
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| Mr. Brian Dean, Deputy Auditor General, introduced A Performance Audit of the Off-Highway
Vehicle Funds (Report 2026-14). |
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| A Performance Audit of Off-Highway Vehicle Funds: Improving Reporting and Accountability
(Report 2026-14) |
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| Mr. Dean and Mr. August Lehman, Performance Audit Supervisor, presented the findings
of the audit. |
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| Mr. Lehman responded to questions from Speaker Schultz regarding; - law enforcement
funding, - where the funds collected from fees goes, - the amount of funding given
from Off-Highway Vehicle Funds (OHV) to law enforcement. |
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| Mr. Lehman responded to a question from Representative Romero regarding comparing
the snowmobiling rates in Utah to other states. |
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| Mr. Joel Ferry, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources responded to the findings
of the audit. |
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| Mr. Jason Curry, Director, Division of Outdoor Recreation, responded to the findings
of the audit. |
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| Mr. Curry responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding the awarding of other
grants in 2024. |
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| Mr. Ferry responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding the money coming
out of the OHV fund to fund law enforcement. |
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| Mr. Ferry responded to a question from Speaker Schultz regarding if the money for
law enforcement can be taken from other funds. |
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| Mr. Curry also responded to Speaker Schultz's question regarding the money for law
enforcement. |
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| Speaker Schultz commented on concerns from lawmakers of the funds not being used for
the specific purposes of the grants. |
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| Mr. Ferry commented on the Utah Trail Network. |
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| Mr. Ferry responded to a question from Representative Romero regarding increasing
fees. |
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| MOTION:Speaker Schultz moved to refer A Performance Audit of the Off-Highway Vehicle Funds
(Report 2026-14) to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee
as the lead committee and to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental
Quality Appropriations Subcommittee as the review committee.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-0-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
5 |
Nays-
0 |
Abs-
1 |
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Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
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Rep. C. Snider
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| MOTION:Speaker Schultz moved to adjourn at 6:04 pm. |
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