H-1496

AN ACT Relating to accountability in state government; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 44 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that there is a growing demand for a new level of accountability in government. The public is asking its government whether desired results are actually accomplished, not just what volume of services is provided. In addition, policy makers need more accurate information for setting policy and allocating resources. Agency directors need better information on whether new and existing programs are effective. Mid-level managers must be able to determine how efficiently they administer programs. Front-line employees must be given the necessary data to suggest creative ways to improve program operations.

The legislature finds that state government needs an integrated, comprehensive accountability system that involves an ongoing cycle of policy planning, quality management, and program evaluation to provide needed information to users. The legislature further finds that establishing such an integrated system requires direct involvement and commitment from the public, the legislature, the governor, the office of financial management, and state agencies. Establishing an integrated accountability system is a long-term process that will require a sustained effort.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. There is established a government accountability consortium. The consortium shall serve as the collaborative institutional arrangement for sharing skills, knowledge, methodologies, and information among the agencies involved in program evaluation. The consortium shall work to ensure the cooperative involvement of all affected parties in an integrated program evaluation system, including the governor and state agencies, the legislature, business and labor, K-12 and higher education, and the general public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The composition of the government accountability consortium shall be as follows: The governor, the director of the office of financial management, two agency directors to be appointed by the governor, the commissioner of public lands, the secretary of transportation, the director of the department of information services, the director of the department of personnel, the state auditor, the chair of the productivity board, the senate majority leader, the speaker of the house of representatives, one legislator from each caucus in the senate to be appointed by the senate majority leader, one legislator from each caucus in the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, the chair of the legislative budget committee, the superintendent of public instruction, the chair of the higher education coordinating board, three citizens to be appointed by the governor, two representatives from the business community appointed by the governor, and two representatives from state-wide labor organizations to be appointed by the governor. One of the labor representatives shall represent state employees. Each member of the consortium may name a designee to represent that member in consortium activities. The governor shall designate one of the three citizens to serve as chair of the consortium, subject to the consent of the senate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The government accountability consortium shall:

(1) Provide technical assistance to agencies in initiating, conducting, and using the results of evaluations to improve program efficiency and effectiveness;

(2) Share evaluation information and results;

(3) Develop standard definitions of commonly used program evaluation terms;

(4) Compile an inventory of state employees who have expertise in specific program methodologies and other needed skills;

(5) Assist in developing training programs in evaluation methodologies and make them available to state employees;

(6) Assist in identifying or developing readily accessible data systems for processing, analyzing, and storing evaluation data;

(7) Work toward establishing a common basic set of data elements on programs; and

(8) Establish a clearinghouse for program evaluation results and information from other states and the federal government.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The consortium shall develop by December 31, 1992, a strategic plan for the design and implementation of a state-wide program evaluation system which is integrated with planning and management. In designing this system, the consortium shall consider the findings of the committee on planning set forth in sections 7 and 8 of this act. The state-wide program evaluation system strategic plan shall include:

(1) A plan and a timetable to provide for an eight to ten year phase-in period for implementing a state-wide program evaluation system, including program outcome measures, organized by the following categories of state programs: General government, health and human services, community and economic development, environment and natural resources, transportation, K-12 education, and higher education;

(2) A review of the present organizational arrangements, costs, and benefits of establishing a systematic performance audit program in state government;

(3) A recommendation and guidelines regarding a system for prospective program analysis of proposed legislation similar to the fiscal note process;

(4) An examination of the feasibility of using outcome reporting as part of the budget building process;

(5) A recommendation to the governor and the legislature by January 1, 1994, regarding a permanent organizational location for the consortium; and

(6) Guidelines for the evaluation component of the integrated accountability system. In drafting these guidelines, the consortium shall consider factors such as (a) an evaluation approach that considers all affected interests; (b) the availability of a central pool of interdisciplinary research expertise from which state agencies can draw; (c) periodic, recurring coordination of evaluation plans; (d) sharing of evaluation expertise; (e) use of sound evaluation approaches and methodologies; (f) standardization of a core set of program measures to the extent possible; and (g) timely, user-oriented, and visually attractive reporting of evaluation results.

In addition, the consortium shall provide an annual report to the governor on the status and results of total quality management initiatives in state government.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. There shall be an administrator of the consortium in charge of consortium staff. The administrator shall be appointed by the director of the office of financial management. Staff shall be provided by the office of financial management. The administrator of the consortium shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW. Consortium staff shall facilitate and provide technical assistance for program evaluations, coordinate education and training for agency personnel, develop useful evaluation guidelines, prepare and distribute publications and reports, and serve as a source for program evaluation information. State universities may also contribute technical assistance through an evaluation advisory group. The administrator of the consortium shall have the authority to solicit and accept grants and other funding from public and private sources in order to defray the costs of consortium activities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. There is established a joint executive/legislative committee on planning to conduct a study and prepare recommendations for the establishment of a strategic planning process for state government. The study will specifically address public, legislative, and executive roles, processes, and structures to (1) identify policy options and priorities and expected program performance outcomes, (2) effectively translate policy direction into efficient, effective and appropriate programs, and (3) utilize program evaluation information in planning and management. Staff support for this committee shall be provided by senate committee services and the office of program research in the house of representatives. The findings and recommendations from the planning study shall be submitted to the legislature and to the accountability consortium by July 1, 1992.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The joint executive/legislative planning committee shall have fifteen members. One member shall be the governor or the governor's designee. One legislator shall be appointed from each caucus by the senate majority leader and the speaker of the house of representatives. One member shall be the director of the office of financial management or the director's designee. Three members shall be agency directors appointed by the governor or the directors' designees. Two members shall represent the business community, one of whom shall be appointed by the governor and one of whom shall be appointed jointly by the senate majority leader and the speaker of the house of representatives. Two members shall represent the interest of labor, one of whom shall be appointed by the governor and one of whom shall be appointed jointly by the senate majority leader and the speaker of the house of representatives. Two members shall represent citizen interest groups, one of whom shall be appointed by the governor and one of whom shall be appointed jointly by the senate majority leader and the speaker of the house of representatives.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. In order to overcome data collection, processing, and analysis problems, the office of financial management, in concert with the accountability consortium staff, shall conduct a study to determine state-wide program evaluation data needs. Based upon the needs identified, the office of financial management and accountability consortium staff shall define a readily accessible data collection system to support program evaluation. The findings and recommendations from this study shall be presented to the governor and to the legislature in the 1992 legislative session.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Sections 7 and 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 44 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. The sum of five hundred sixty-four thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the office of financial management for the purposes of carrying out the duties specified in this act.