California 2009 2009-2010 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SCA28 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/11/2010

 BILL NUMBER: SCA 28INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Wyland FEBRUARY 11, 2010 A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by adding Section 10 to Article III thereof, relating to state audits. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCA 28, as introduced, Wyland. State Auditor: duties. Existing statutory law establishes the Bureau of State Audits, which is headed by the State Auditor and has specified statutory duties, including the performance of statutorily mandated audits. Existing law states that the Bureau of State Audits, in order to be free of organizational impairments to independence, shall be independent of the executive branch and legislative control. This measure would require the State Auditor to biennially conduct a performance evaluation of each state program, including the administration or oversight of that program by the department or agency that is responsible for the program, and submit a report of the results of that performance evaluation to the Legislature, as prescribed. This measure would also require the State Auditor to make each performance evaluation available to the public on an Internet Web site and in hardcopy format. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. Resolved by the Senate, the Assembly concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California at its 2009-10 Regular Session commencing on the first day of December 2008, two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of the State of California, that the Constitution of the State be amended as follows: That Section 10 is added to Article III thereof, to read: SEC. 10. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012 and no less frequently than every two years thereafter, the State Auditor, or his or her successor, shall conduct a performance evaluation of each state government program, including the administration or oversight of that program by each department or agency that is responsible for the program, and shall submit to the Legislature a report of the results of that performance evaluation. (b) Each performance evaluation of a program conducted under this section shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following: (1) A statement of the purposes of the program, including the intent of the Legislature pursuant to any measure enacted to establish or modify the program. (2) A discussion of the history of the program. (3) A description of all sources of funding for the program, and an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the program. (4) An evaluation of the success of the program, including an explanation of the methodology used to evaluate that success. (5) Recommendations as to how the program may be made more efficient and effective, or as to whether the program should be eliminated. (6) Any related information or evaluation the State Auditor deems appropriate. (c) The State Auditor shall make each performance evaluation prepared pursuant to this section available to the public on an Internet Web site and in a hardcopy format.