Joint Budget Committee. The bill requires the state auditor to
engage a third party to conduct an evaluation of the department of corrections' (department) budget practices. The state auditor shall engage the third party by October 1, 2024. The third party shall provide an update to the joint budget committee and the legislative audit committee by March 1, 2025. The third-party consultant shall release a final report to the department, joint budget committee, and legislative audit committee by June 30, 2025. The evaluation must review the department's personnel-related costs, contract staff spending, and operational costs driven by caseload.
