LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES State of Washington Keenan Konopaski Bob Hasegawa Jake Fey Joint Legislative 106 11th Ave SW, PO Box 40910 Liz Lovelett Noel Frame Olympia, WA 98504-0910 Mark Mullet, Chair Larry Hoff Audit & Review Ann Rivers Vicki Kraft Phone: 360-786-5171 Rebecca Saldaña Ed Orcutt, Vice Chair Committee Fax: 360-786-5180 Shelly Short Gerry Pollet, Assistant Secretary E-mail: [email protected] Keith Wagoner Drew Stokesbary JLARC Twitter: @WALegAuditor Lynda Wilson, Secretary Website: www.jlarc.leg.wa.gov June 15, 2021 Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee Regular Committee Meeting Minutes COMMITTEE BUSINESS TVW Recording • Senator Mullet, JLARC Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. • Senator Mullet, JLARC Chair, introduced JLARC’s new member, Senator Liz Lovelett. Senator Mullet, JLARC Chair, made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 6, 2021 JLARC meeting. Motion was seconded and approved. (See TVW recording at 01:17) • Keenan Konopaski, Legislative Auditor and Eric Thomas, Audit Coordinator, spoke about the Legislative Auditor’s Annual Report that was released earlier this year. • Keenan Konopaski, Legislative Auditor; Valerie Whitener, Deputy Legislative Auditor; and Eric Thomas; Audit Coordinator, spoke about the 2021-23 Work Plan. Senator Mullet, JLARC Chair, made a motion to approve the 2021-23 Work Plan. Motion was seconded and approved. (See TVW recording at 09:23) REPORTS, PRESENTATIONS, DISCUSSIONS TVW Recording Follow-Up on Workers’ Compensation Claim Management for State Funded Claims – Proposed Final Report Legislative Auditor’s Conclusion: Although L&I took steps to improve processes for state funded workers’ compensation claims, the 2016 recommendations remain partially implemented. Some return to work measures have improved since 2014. Rebecca Connolly and Jennifer Sulcer from the JLARC staff presented the proposed final report. A 2016 JLARC report found that L&I was not following best practices for workers’ compensation claim management. JLARC directed its staff to follow up on three recommended actions from that report. The 2016 JLARC report concluded that: Claim outcomes could be improved if L&I’s systems were more focused on prompt and safe return to work. The following agency staff answered member questions: • Victoria Kennedy, Assistant Director for Insurance Services, L&I (See TVW recording at 32:55) Representative Orcutt made a motion to approve a Committee addendum to the Workers’ Compensation Claim Management Follow-Up report. Motion was seconded and approved. (See TVW recording at 01:14:43) Representative Orcutt made a motion to approve for distribution the Follow-Up on Workers’ Compensation Claim Management for State Funded Claims – Proposed Final Report with the Committee addendum. Motion was seconded and approved. (See TVW recording at 01:16:31) Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee | June 15, 2021 Page 2 2021 How Washington Compares – Briefing Report Ashley Elliott from the JLARC staff presented the briefing report. JLARC staff compiled the report as a reference guide for Washington legislators to illustrate how Washington compares to other states in five broad categories: population, economy, health, and environment; government spending and debt; education costs and spending; taxes and revenue; and public assistance, transportation, and public safety spending. The goal of this briefing report is to make these public data sources more accessible and interactive. (See TVW recording at 01:22:27) UW and Seattle Children’s Consultation and Referral Lines for Mental and Behavioral Health – Proposed Study Questions Casey Radostitz and Amanda Eadrick from the JLARC staff presented the proposed study questions. In 2020, SHB 2728 directed JLARC to review four telehealth programs that provide mental and behavioral health expertise and assistance to health care providers and patients’ families. The Legislature asked whether these programs are increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder services. (See TVW recording at 1:29:11) ATTENDANCE JLARC Members Present: Senators Bob Hasegawa, Liz Lovelett, Mark Mullet, Ann Rivers, Rebecca Saldaña, Shelly Short, Keith Wagoner, Lynda Wilson; Representatives Jake Fey, Noel Frame, Larry Hoff, Ed Orcutt, Gerry Pollet. JLARC Staff Present: Keenan Konopaski, Legislative Auditor; Rebecca Connolly, Amanda Eadrick, Ashley Elliott, Geneva Johnston, Emily Martin, Casey, Radostitz, Marilyn Richter, Jennifer Sulcer, Eric Thomas, Liz Thomas, Valerie Whitener. ADJOURNMENT • The meeting was adjourned at 11:43 a.m. CHAIR VICE CHAIR 2 .