5633-S AMS PRIN DOYL 018

5633-S AMS PRIN DOYL 018

SSB 5633 - S AMD - 235

By Senators Prince and Haugen

WITHDRAWN 3/19/97

On page 3, after line 11, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The legislative transportation committee shall conduct a performance audit of the office of financial management and the department of social and health services, focused on (1) the adequacy and efficacy of the office of financial management's fiscal and policy support to the legislature, particularly with regard to transportation issues; and (2) the financial management of the department of social and health services, with particular emphasis on the lack of institutional control over expenditures, and their effect upon the provision of transportation services to the elderly and disabled. The performance audit shall be an objective and systematic assessment of the programs administered by the departments, including each program's effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. The legislative transportation committee shall contract with independent evaluators as needed.

(2) In conducting the performance audit, the independent evaluator shall involve the departments' frontline employees, department and program managers, customers of the departments' programs and services, other taxpayers, legislators, legislative staff, and other external public and private sector experts as deemed appropriate in conducting the performance audit. On behalf of the legislative transportation committee, the independent auditor shall be provided direct and unrestricted access to information held by the departments, which shall submit all data and other information requested by the committee.

(3) The performance audit shall identify those activities and programs of the departments that should be strengthened, those that should be abandoned, and those that need to be redirected or other alternatives explored. In conducting the audit, the following objectives shall be addressed as appropriate:

(a) Identify each of the departments' discrete functions or activities, along with associated costs and full-time equivalent staff;

(b) Determine the extent to which the particular activity or function is specifically authorized in statute or is consistent with statutory direction and intent;

(d) Consider whether or not the purpose for which the program was created is still valid based on the circumstances under which the program was created versus those that exist at the time of the audit;

(e) Recommend organizations or programs in the public or private sector to be used as benchmarks against which to measure the performance of the program or function;

(f) Determine whether or not the program or function is achieving the results for which it was established;

(g) Identify alternatives for delivering the program or service, either in the public or private sector;

(h) Identify any duplication of services with other government programs or private enterprises or gaps in services;

(i) Identify the costs or implications of not performing the function;

(j) Determine the frequency with which other states perform similar functions, as well as their relative funding levels and performance; (k) In the event of inadequate performance by the program, identify the potential for a workable, affordable plan to improve performance;

(l) Identify, to the extent possible, the causes of any program's failure to achieve the desired results and identify alternatives for reducing costs or improving service delivery, including transferring functions to other public or private sector organizations;

(m) Develop recommendations regarding statutes that inhibit or do not contribute to the department's ability to perform its functions effectively and efficiently;

(n) Evaluate the effectiveness of the departments' governance and the legislature's policy and fiscal oversight of the departments; and

(o) Develop an advisory recommendation regarding whether the departments' programs or activities should be continued, abandoned, or restructured.

(4) The performance audit shall be conducted under the procedures established in chapter 44.28 RCW, including the preparation of preliminary and final audit reports under RCW 44.28.088 and a follow-up compliance report under RCW 44.28.091. The preliminary audit report shall be completed by August 1, 1998, and the final audit report shall be published by November 1, 1998.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1997, in the transportation appropriations act, this act is null and void.

Renumber the sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.