ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 16, 1997 TAG: 9704160050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission also will look into nonsecurity staffing at prisons, the governor's Cabinet and pay equity in the state work force.
The General Assembly's investigative agency is planning election-year probes of several politically sensitive issues, including welfare reform and child day care.
The studies were among 18 announced Monday by the nonpartisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which answers to the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.
JLARC last year issued a report accusing the administration of Republican Gov. George Allen of coddling polluters, prompting some GOP leaders to question the commission's political neutrality.
The welfare reform investigation is not scheduled for completion until December, a month after Virginians choose a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates.
JLARC plans to determine the impact of the welfare law on families moving off public assistance. The welfare-to-work law was initiated by Allen.
On day care, JLARC will focus on regulation, the increasing number of licensed providers and whether the state promotes care that is widely available and affordable.
The legislature and Allen have clashed over day care, with the administration favoring looser regulations. This year, the assembly passed - but the governor blocked - legislation aimed at thwarting deregulation.
JLARC staff will brief commission members on the investigation in July. A final report is due in September.
Other studies will focus on nonsecurity staffing at prisons, the organization and operation of the natural resources secretariat, an overview of the governor's Cabinet and pay equity in the state work force.
The prison probe, due just before the November election, will focus on staffing at prison hospitals, general administration and programs for inmates.
On state employee pay, JLARC will examine whether jobs are segregated by gender and whether the jobs dominated by men pay higher salaries than those held mostly by women. The report is due in November.
LENGTH: Medium: 51 linesby CNB