- ASD slammed by Utah legislative committee for school closure process; board and superintendent subpoenaed for question (Lehi Free Press, 5/19/2023)
- The Alpine School District (ASD) and its board faced criticism from Utah’s Administrative Rules Review and General Oversight Committee for their handling of recent school closure processes. The committee issued a rare bipartisan subpoena for the ASD Board and superintendent to testify in a future meeting. The issue arose after the district voted to begin the closing process for five elementary schools, leading to a lawsuit by parents who claimed the district violated state law in its closure timeline and actions.
- Audits incoming: Utah primary elections to receive reviews from legislative and executive auditors (Deseret News, 8/20/2024)
- Utah is conducting audits for the 2024 GOP primary elections to ensure the integrity of the voting process. The State Auditor and Legislative Auditor General will review different aspects of the elections as requested by candidates and the Legislature, in addition to routine audits mandated by law. The goal is to maintain public trust in election outcomes and verify that the electronic tally accurately reflects voter intent.
- Utah Department of Natural Resources defends its ticketing practices, insisting there’s no illegal quota (Fox13, 9/16/2024)
- The Utah Department of Natural Resources is defending its ticketing practices, asserting that there is no illegal quota system in place despite criticism and legislative scrutiny. Lawmakers have banned police quotas in the state since 2018, specifically targeting citations and arrests, but the department insists its “performance goals” are not in violation of these laws. The Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review and General Oversight Committee has indicated it will investigate the issue.
- Child and Family Services speaks to lawmakers after 12-year-old’s death (KSL-TV, 9/16/2024)
- After the death of 12-year-old Gavin Peterson, Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) spoke to the Rule Review and General Oversight Committee about potential gaps in their resources and legislative support. DCFS shared insights into their handling of abuse cases and addressed concerns about a rise in false reports. Lawmakers are exploring new legislation to penalize false claims and enhance support for child welfare services, with further review of the Peterson case by the Child Welfare Legislative Panel planned for October.
- Sean Reyes ‘has not been transparent’ with Utahns or lawmakers, new audit finds of former A.G. (The Salt Lake Tribune, 1/31/2025)
- Utah legislative auditors were stonewalled during their investigation of former Attorney General Sean Reyes. The legislature requested the audit in response to AG Reyes involvement with the controversial founder of Operation Underground Railroad and his own nonprofit, which conflicted with his office’s responsibility to oversee nonprofits. The auditors made a number of recommendations to improve policies, procedures, and implementation.
