Authority of LOFT
With the enactment of SB 1 during the 2019 legislative session, LOFT has statutory authority to examine and evaluate the finances and operations of all departments, agencies, and institutions of Oklahoma and all of its political subdivisions.
Created to assist the Legislature in performing its duties, LOFT’s operations are overseen by a legislative committee. The 14-member Legislative Oversight Committee (LOC) is appointed by the Speaker of the House and Senate Pro Tempore and receives the LOFT’s reports.
The LOC may identify specific agency programs, activities or functions for LOFT to evaluate. LOFT may further submit recommendations for statutory changes identified as having the ability to improve government effectiveness and efficiency.
State law requires all departments, agencies, and institutions of Oklahoma and all of its political subdivisions to make available information and materials requested by LOFT staff that is not otherwise confidential by law.
As stated in §62-8014:
Agencies and institutions to furnish information and cooperate:
“A. Each agency or institution of the state shall, upon request, furnish and make available to the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency all records, documents, materials, personnel, information or other resources as the Office deems necessary to conduct performance evaluations as required by this act. Any record, document, material or other information made confidential by law shall be provided to the Office, which shall also maintain such confidentiality. All records, documents, materials or other information of the Office shall be deemed to be a record of the Legislature.
B. Each state agency and other affected persons shall cooperate with the oversight committee and the Office in the providing of any information requested. The oversight committee shall have the power to conduct hearings, administer oaths, issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of information as provided in Sections 773 and 775 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.”
If needed, the LOC has power to compel testimony or issue subpoenas to allow for LOFT’s inspection of records and other information.