Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto of a bill that establishes a Program Evaluation Division of the Legislative Finance Committee and requires state agencies to provide any information, documents, or material requested by the Legislative Finance Committee, including confidential information.

Highlights:

-Establishes the following powers and duties of the Program Evaluation Division (Sec. 1):

-Conducting program evaluations; -Conducting information technology evaluations; -Conducting special reviews of agencies; -Reporting the results of the above to the Legislative Finance Committee; and -Making final reports available to the legislature and public.

-Requires the Program Evaluation Division to provide policymakers with objective, independent, and credible assessments of agencies to allow policymakers to determine the following (Sec. 1):

-Whether spending of public funds is producing the desired results; -Whether agencies are complying with relevant state and federal procedures; -Whether alternative policies could save money and improve operations; and -The effect of agency operations on state finances.

-Prohibits members of the Legislative Finance Committee or its staff from disclosing any information that is confidential by law or the Inspection of Public Records Act (Sec. 2). -Specifies that background material used as part of program evaluations or reviews by the Program Evaluation Division is not public records for the purpose of the Inspection of Public Records Act (Sec. 1). -Requires members of the Program Evaluation Division be appointed without considering party affiliation and solely based on fitness to perform the duties (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Bill Richardson

Full Bill Text