MICHIGAN WOMEN'S COMMISSION

Michigan Office of the
Auditor General
Thomas H. McTavish, C.P.A.
Auditor General

EXECUTIVE DIGEST #1511298
MICHIGAN WOMEN'S COMMISSION

INTRODUCTION
This report, issued in July 1999, contains the results of our performance audit of the Michigan Women's Commission, Department of Civil Rights.

AUDIT PURPOSE
This performance audit was conducted as part of the constitutional responsibility of the Office of the Auditor General. Performance audits are conducted on a priority basis related to the potential for improving effectiveness and efficiency.

BACKGROUND
Act 1, P.A. 1968 (Sections 10.71 - 10.77 of the Michigan Compiled Laws), established the Michigan Women's Commission within the Executive Office of the Governor.

Executive Order 1973-7 provided that the Commission would remain an independent unit within the Executive Office of the Governor; however, the budget, procurement, staffing, and related management functions of the Commission were transferred to the Department of Management and Budget. Subsequently, Executive Order 1991-29, effective December 16, 1991, transferred all the statutory authority, powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the Commission to the director of the Department of Civil Rights, by a type I transfer, as defined by Section 16.103 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

Section 10.73 of the Michigan Compiled Laws provides that the Commission shall stimulate and encourage throughout the State the study and review of the status of women; strengthen home life by directing attention to critical problems confronting women as wives, mothers, homemakers, and workers; recommend methods of overcoming discrimination against women in public and private employment and civil and political rights; promote more effective methods for enabling women to develop their skills, to continue their education, and to be retrained; make surveys and appoint advisory committees in the fields of, but not limited to, education, social services, labor laws and employment policies, law enforcement, health, new and expanded services, legal rights, family relations, and volunteer services; and secure appropriate recognition of women's accomplishments and contributions to this State.

For fiscal year 1997-98, Commission expenditures totaled approximately $225,000. The Commission had three full-time permanent employees as of December 31, 1998.

AUDIT OBJECTIVE AND CONCLUSION
Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the Commission in fulfilling its statutory requirements to direct attention to and recommend methods of overcoming critical problems confronting women and to recognize women's accomplishments and contributions in the State.

Conclusion: Our assessment disclosed that the Commission actively worked toward fulfilling its statutory requirements to direct attention to and recommend methods of overcoming critical problems confronting women and to recognize women's accomplishments and contributions in the State. However, we noted a reportable condition related to the continuous quality improvement process (Finding 1).

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Michigan Women's Commission. Our audit was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and, accordingly, included such tests of the records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.

Our methodology included the examination of records and program activities for the period October 1, 1995 through December 31, 1998. To assess the effectiveness of the Commission, we reviewed the enabling statute and other program documentation, interviewed Commission staff, and tested the Commission's compliance with the enabling statute, appropriations acts, and policies and procedures.

AGENCY RESPONSES AND PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP
Our audit report includes 1 finding and 1 recommendation. The Commission concurs with the recommendation.

The Commission had not complied with our prior audit recommendation. The recommendation was rewritten for inclusion in this audit report.

Full Audit Report - #1511298 - MICHIGAN WOMEN'S COMMISSION

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INTRODUCTION This report, issued in July 1999, contains the results of our performance audit of the Michigan Women's Commission, Department of Civil Rights.

AUDIT PURPOSE This performance audit was conducted as part of the constitutional responsibility of the Office of the Auditor General. Performance audits are conducted on a priority basis related to the potential for improving effectiveness and efficiency.

BACKGROUND Act 1, P.A. 1968 (Sections 10.71 - 10.77 of the Michigan Compiled Laws), established the Michigan Women's Commission within the Executive Office of the Governor. Executive Order 1973-7 provided that the Commission would remain an independent unit within the Executive Office of the Governor; however, the budget, procurement, staffing, and related management functions of the Commission were transferred to the Department of Management and Budget. Subsequently, Executive Order 1991-29, effective December 16, 1991, transferred all the statutory authority, powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the Commission to the director of the Department of Civil Rights, by a type I transfer, as defined by Section 16.103 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. Section 10.73 of the Michigan Compiled Laws provides that the Commission shall stimulate and encourage throughout the State the study and review of the status of women; strengthen home life by directing attention to critical problems confronting women as wives, mothers, homemakers, and workers; recommend methods of overcoming discrimination against women in public and private employment and civil and political rights; promote more effective methods for enabling women to develop their skills, to continue their education, and to be retrained; make surveys and appoint advisory committees in the fields of, but not limited to, education, social services, labor laws and employment policies, law enforcement, health, new and expanded services, legal rights, family relations, and volunteer services; and secure appropriate recognition of women's accomplishments and contributions to this State. For fiscal year 1997-98, Commission expenditures totaled approximately $225,000. The Commission had three full-time permanent employees as of December 31, 1998.

AUDIT OBJECTIVE AND CONCLUSION Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the Commission in fulfilling its statutory requirements to direct attention to and recommend methods of overcoming critical problems confronting women and to recognize women's accomplishments and contributions in the State. Conclusion: Our assessment disclosed that the Commission actively worked toward fulfilling its statutory requirements to direct attention to and recommend methods of overcoming critical problems confronting women and to recognize women's accomplishments and contributions in the State. However, we noted a reportable condition related to the continuous quality improvement process (Finding 1).

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Michigan Women's Commission. Our audit was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and, accordingly, included such tests of the records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. Our methodology included the examination of records and program activities for the period October 1, 1995 through December 31, 1998. To assess the effectiveness of the Commission, we reviewed the enabling statute and other program documentation, interviewed Commission staff, and tested the Commission's compliance with the enabling statute, appropriations acts, and policies and procedures.

AGENCY RESPONSES AND PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP Our audit report includes 1 finding and 1 recommendation. The Commission concurs with the recommendation. The Commission had not complied with our prior audit recommendation. The recommendation was rewritten for inclusion in this audit report.