Joint oversight committee selects four OPE studies for the interim

The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee voted to assign four studies to the Office of Performance Evaluations (OPE) on Dec. 2, accepting the top requests identified in a ranked ballot.

The committee, chaired by the session chair, approved motions to accept these priorities after OPE staff tallied confidential ballots. The studies selected were: boards of community guardians; factors driving growth in the state prison population; impacts of growth on agriculture and infrastructure; and oversight of sexual assault in women’s correctional facilities. Representative Birch moved the motion to accept the four projects; the motion carried by voice vote.

Sen. Mark Harris, who presented two related study requests, told the committee the fund‑balance review of boards consolidated under DOPL grew from constituent concerns that some boards now report nil balances while others hold surpluses. He asked OPE to examine whether surplus boards are effectively subsidizing other boards’ operations and whether consolidated administrative costs are transparent.

Representative Clay Handy asked the committee to study boards of guardians after describing years of volunteer service and a 2002 manual still in use. Handy said stronger guidance and shared best practices could expand participation, reduce the burden on county offices and improve care for vulnerable adults.

Sen. Ruckdy described two large corrections‑related proposals. One requests an evaluation of oversight and procedures for preventing and responding to staff misconduct and sexual assault in women’s prisons. The other seeks an aggregate analysis of drivers behind Idaho’s rising incarceration rate and associated costs.

OPE Director Ryan Langrell told the committee the chosen projects range from small to large in scope; he said OPE will meet through the interim and provide updates so the committee can consider taking on additional, smaller studies if capacity allows. Casey Petty of OPE presented the ballot results showing the two projects with majority support and two others with substantial support.

The committee’s vote formalizes OPE’s interim priorities and directs staff to report status updates during interim meetings. Chair and co‑chairs said they will consult with OPE staff about scheduling and whether any small item can be added later if capacity permits.