Audit criticizes regulatory board vacancies

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A new audit says Missouri has too many vacancies on several advisory and regulatory boards.

Friday's report from State Auditor Tom Schweich said 27 percent of seats on boards overseen by the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration were vacant as of June 2013. Vacancies are filled by the governor, an insurance department official or the board itself.

Five of the 37 boards examined lacked enough appointed members to make a quorum during meetings. The report also found 63 percent of the appointed board members served beyond their term expiration date.

In a response included with the audit, the department says it will continue to work at filling vacancies.

Overall, the department received a "fair" rating, the second lowest on the auditor's four-part scale.