Arizona State and Local Government Documents Collection

The Office of the Auditor General is a legislative agency under the direction of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Office provides information to the Legislature and various other governmental entities, which assists them in overseeing operations, improving their financial management and effectiveness, and giving the public a measure of accountability.

The Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for ensuring that owners and operators of petroleum underground storage tanks comply with federal and state financial responsibility requirements. These requirements help ensure that UST owners and operators can pay to clean up leaks and spills and compensate third parties for bodily injury and any property damage incurred. Sites and/or operators of petroleum USTs include service stations, convenience stores, and local governments. The Department continues to fail to ensure that UST owners and operators meet financial responsibility requirements. Although the Department has begun to take steps to identify and address some of the weaknesses with its financial responsibility program, it should take additional steps, including developing policies and procedures to ensure UST owners and operators comply with financial responsibility requirements.

MGT of America, Inc. was retained to conduct a study for the Arizona Department of Transportation to determine whether there was a compelling interest to justify a disadvantaged business enterprise program for ADOT. MGT found that minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises were substantially underutilized as prime contractors in construction and construction-related professional services. African American, Hispanic American, and Asian-owned firms were under-utilized as construction subcontractors. The study provides factual predicate evidence for the selective use of project goals for African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American construction subcontractors.

There are two distinct components to the economic development activities described in ADOH’s LIHTC program details. The first component is activity that strengthens the economy. This is the quantifiable activity that is the subject of this report. The second component is community building activity which can be both quantitative and qualitative. This is an area that should be considered in the debate but which is not addressed within this report.

The Arizona Medical Board has improved its licensing and registration processes, but should continue to follow them and conduct a risk-based review of previously issued licenses. Because it previously lacked adequate policies and procedures, the Board has retained a vendor to review the initial medical doctor licenses it issued between October 1, 2011 and February 5, 2014. The Board should also conduct a risk-based review of the initial MD licenses it issued between February 6, 2014 and June 16, 2014, and continue to follow its improved licensing and registration processes.