PRINTER'S NO. 1981
No. 1624 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY D. EVANS, BELARDI, BROWNE, CALTAGIRONE,
CAPPABIANCA, M. COHEN, CRUZ, DALEY, DeLUCA, FREEMAN, GRUCELA,
HALUSKA, LaGROTTA, LAUGHLIN, MANDERINO, McCALL, McILHATTAN,
MELIO, MUNDY, MYERS, PISTELLA, PRESTON, ROBINSON, SAMUELSON,
SCRIMENTI, SHANER, STEELMAN, THOMAS, TRELLO, TRICH, WALKO,
WANSACZ, WASHINGTON, J. WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI, YEWCIC AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 21, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 21, 2001
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Pennsylvania Performance Evaluation Commission
2 and providing for its powers and duties.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Performance
7 Evaluation Act.
8 Section 2. Purpose.
9 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
10 (1) There is the need to continuously evaluate the
11 performance of this Commonwealth's programs and policies to
12 assure that tax dollars are spent in the most effective and
13 efficient manner possible.
14 (2) The citizens of this Commonwealth have the right to
15 know that State government is meeting their needs in a cost-
1 effective manner.
2 (3) Agencies of State government must be able to
3 demonstrate that their programs are meeting their goals and
4 objectives and are having a positive impact on this
5 Commonwealth and its citizens by becoming more focused,
6 concentrated and intensive in their performance evaluation
7 efforts both for the short term and the long term.
8 (4) Given the constrained nature of the fiscal resources
9 that will be available both now and into the foreseeable
10 future, only those programs that prove their worth can be
11 considered for continued funding.
12 Section 3. Definitions.
13 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
14 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
15 context clearly indicates otherwise:
16 "Commission." The Pennsylvania Performance Evaluation
17 Commission established in section 4.
18 Section 4. Establishing the Pennsylvania Performance Evaluation
19 Commission.
20 The Pennsylvania Performance Evaluation Commission is hereby
21 established to develop and implement a comprehensive system of
22 performance evaluation.
23 Section 5. Membership.
24 The commission shall consist of nine members. The members of
25 the commission shall include the Secretary of the Budget, the
26 Secretary of Administration, the State Treasurer, the Auditor
27 General, the chairman of the Legislative Budget and Finance
28 Committee and the chairman and the minority chairman of the
29 Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairman and the
30 minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House
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1 of Representatives. The members of the commission shall elect a
2 chairman at their first meeting.
3 Section 6. Powers and duties of commission.
4 (a) Meetings.--The commission shall meet as frequently as it
5 deems appropriate, but at least once during each month. The
6 Secretary of the Budget shall be responsible for calling the
7 initial meeting of the commission. The initial organizational
8 meeting of the commission shall take place within 30 days of the
9 effective date of this act.
10 (b) Resources.--The commission may utilize the staff and
11 resources of the General Assembly, any Commonwealth agency, and
12 any public or private institution which receives Commonwealth
13 funds. The General Assembly, Commonwealth agencies and public or
14 private institutions receiving Commonwealth funds shall provide
15 staff and resources as requested at no cost to the commission.
16 The commission may use the space, staff and resources of the
17 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to prepare its final
18 report.
19 (c) Objectives.--The commission shall evaluate the current
20 structure and system of performance evaluation in the
21 Commonwealth and develop and implement a comprehensive and
22 coordinated system of program evaluation that includes
23 monitoring, impact assessment, examination of cost effectiveness
24 and cost-benefit analysis. In so doing, the commission shall
25 take into consideration the effectiveness of the existing
26 systems, including:
27 (1) Program evaluations.
28 (2) Preaudits.
29 (3) Program measures.
30 (4) Financial audits.
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1 (5) Budget process.
2 (6) Sunset reviews.
3 (7) Legislative oversight.
4 (8) Performance audits.
5 (d) Report to General Assembly.--Within 90 days of the
6 effective date of this act, the commission shall identify those
7 programs most in need of performance evaluation. Within 360 days
8 of the effective date of this act, the commission shall submit
9 to the General Assembly a performance evaluation report for each
10 of the programs identified above with specific recommendations,
11 including whether:
12 (1) To continue or discontinue the program.
13 (2) To improve its practices and procedures.
14 (3) To modify specific program strategies and
15 techniques.
16 (e) Comprehensive report.--The commission shall issue to the
17 Governor and the General Assembly a comprehensive report no
18 later than one year after the effective date of this act
19 containing its recommendations for:
20 (1) Implementing a systematic means of evaluating
21 programs in order to make State government in Pennsylvania
22 more effective and cost efficient.
23 (2) Expanding the use of existing oversight processes
24 and the role of existing oversight agencies.
25 (3) Encouraging greater participation of legislative
26 committees in the evaluation process.
27 (4) Ensuring systematic scheduling of program
28 evaluations.
29 (5) Encouraging greater use of evaluation findings by
30 policy decision makers.
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1 (f) State Employee Cost Reduction Incentive Program.--Within
2 180 days of the effective date of this act, the commission shall
3 develop and implement a State Employee Cost Reduction Incentive
4 Program of meritorious service awards to State employees who
5 propose procedures or ideas which are adopted and which will
6 result in eliminating or reducing State expenditures or
7 improving operations, provided such proposals are placed in
8 effect. In developing and implementing the program, the
9 commission shall consider at least all of the following:
10 (1) Elements to be included on a prepared suggestion
11 form to be completed by State employees.
12 (2) Procedures for reviewing and evaluating completed
13 suggestion forms.
14 (3) Rewards for adopted suggestions that include cash
15 awards and/or paid annual leave.
16 Section 7. Effective date.
17 This act shall take effect immediately.
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