This bill reestablishes the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee as a permanent standing committee of the General Assembly. The committee will consist of six members of the Senate and six members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the respective leaders of each chamber. The committee's purpose is to conduct program reviews and investigations to assist the General Assembly in its duties. The committee will have the authority to request and access public records, data, and other information from state departments and agencies. It will also have the power to recommend legislation based on its findings and to retain the services of consultants and personnel to assist in its work. The committee will report annually to the General Assembly on its activities.

The bill also defines "program review" as an examination of state programs to determine their effectiveness and efficiency, and "investigation" as the investigation of any matter referred to the committee. The committee will have the power to conduct investigations requested by the General Assembly or initiated by the committee itself, and to study any matter within the scope of a completed or partially completed staff report. The bill includes provisions for the confidentiality of information provided to the committee and the non-disclosure of the identity of public employees providing information.

This bill, labeled sHB5720 File No. 268, makes several changes to current law. First, it requires the department head, agency head, or program officer to take necessary corrective actions when a program review identifies deficiencies. If the committee deems the action taken to be unsuitable, they must report the matter to the General Assembly along with their recommendations. The committee is also required to report the results of each investigation to the General Assembly electronically.

The bill also amends the requirements for compliance audits of quasi-public agencies. The Auditors of Public Accounts must conduct a compliance audit of each agency's activities every two years. The audit must determine whether the agency has complied with regulations concerning affirmative action, personnel practices, the purchase of goods and services, the use of surplus funds, and the distribution of loans, grants, and other financial assistance. The audit report must be submitted to the Governor and the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee. The committee must then prepare an assessment of whether the audit report complies with the requirements and submit the assessment and a copy of the report to the appropriate committee of the General Assembly.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 1-122, 2-46, 2-47, 51-51l
GAE Joint Favorable: 1-122, 2-46, 2-47, 51-51l
File No. 268: 1-122, 2-46, 2-47, 51-51l