Section 2A.7. State government oversight and program evaluation.

  1.  The general assembly shall independently and intensively review and oversee the performance of state agencies in the operation of state programs to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the state programs and to consider alternatives which may improve the benefits of such programs or may reduce their costs to the citizens of the state. The legislative services agency shall provide technical and professional support for the general assembly’s oversight responsibility.

  2.  The general assembly by concurrent resolution or the legislative council may direct the legislative services agency to conduct a program evaluation of any state agency. Upon the passage of the concurrent resolution or receiving the direction of the legislative council, the director of the legislative services agency shall inform the chairpersons of the committees responsible for appropriations of the anticipated cost of the program evaluation and the number and nature of any additional personnel needed to conduct the program evaluation and shall notify the official responsible for the program to be evaluated. The director, after consulting with the responsible official and the entity requesting the program evaluation, shall determine the goals and objectives of the state agency or state program for the purpose of the program evaluation.

  3.  In conducting the program evaluation, the legislative services agency may make certain determinations including but not limited to the following:

  a.  The organizational framework of the state agency, its adequacy and relationship to the overall structure of state government, and whether the program under the agency’s jurisdiction could be more effective if consolidated with another program, transferred to another program, or modified, or whether the program should be abolished.

  b.  Whether the state agency is conducting programs and activities and expending funds appropriated to the state agency in compliance with state and federal law and any executive order of the governor, and whether statutory or administrative rule changes are advisable.

  c.  Whether the state agency is conducting authorized activities and programs pursuant to goals and objectives established by statute or rule, specific legislative intent, the budget, the governor, or a strategic or other long-range plan, and whether alternatives which might produce the desired results at a lower cost have been considered.

  d.  Whether the state agency is conducting programs and activities and expending funds appropriated to the state agency in an efficient and effective manner, has complied with all applicable laws, and, if not, determine the causes for such inefficiency, ineffectiveness, or noncompliance.

  e.  Relationships within and among other governmental agencies and programs including financial exchanges, coordination, inconsistent programs, and areas of duplication or overlapping programs.

  f.  The productivity of the state agency’s operations measured in terms of cost-benefit relationships or other accepted measures of effectiveness.

  g.  Other criteria determined by the director.

  4.  Upon the completion of the program evaluation and preparation of a report on the evaluation, the legislative services agency shall provide a copy of the report to the governing official or board of the state agency and afford the state agency a reasonable opportunity to respond to the findings and recommendations of the report. The response shall be included in the final version of the report released to the general assembly or the legislative council. Until its release the report shall be regarded as confidential by all persons properly having custody of the report.

2003 Acts, ch 35, §7, 49