HCS/SB 525 - This act modifies the duties of the Office of Legislative Research.

A "Legislative Academy" is established to familiarize members of the General Assembly with all phases of governmental operations and shall include tours of state facilities. The program would be of not less than twelve weeks duration, and would begin after adjournment of the first legislative session after the member's election to be completed by November 1 of that year.

Any member of the General Assembly elected for the first time after January 1, 1996 may attend the Legislative Academy. Members will receive the same per diem members receive during the regular sessions of the General Assembly.

Related to the current duties of the Oversight Division:

(1) Removes the auditing function and the requirement that the State Auditor provide assistance with audits;

(2) Revises duties to include fiscal analyses, performance evaluations, and expenditure reviews of government agencies and entities upon adoption of a resolution by the committee;

(3) Repeals language relating to management audits and adds the terms "agency," "expenditure review," and "performance evaluation";

(4) Expands the section regarding issuance of subpoenas duces tecum by the committee;

(5) Repeals the Federal Mandate Auditor Act; and

(6) Modifies the requirements to get a permit to practice public accounting.
DENISE GARNIER