(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Health sciences facility" has the meaning set forth in section 26-6.4-103 (2), C.R.S. For purposes of this section, "health sciences facility" includes any contractor or subcontractor engaged by the health sciences facility to assist in the implementation and monitoring of the nurse home visitor program established under article 6.4 of title 26, C.R.S.

(b) "Master settlement agreement" means the master settlement agreement, the smokeless tobacco master settlement agreement, and the consent decree approved and entered by the court in the case denominated State of Colorado, ex rel. Gale A. Norton, Attorney General v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; American Tobacco Co., Inc.; Brown Williamson Tobacco Corp.; Liggett Myers, Inc.; Lorillard Tobacco Co., Inc.; Philip Morris, Inc.; United States Tobacco Co.; B.A.T. Industries, P.L.C.; The Council For Tobacco Research--U.S.A., Inc.; and Tobacco Institute, Inc., Case No. 97 CV 3432, in the district court for the city and county of Denver.

(c) "Tobacco settlement program" means any program that receives appropriations from moneys received by the state pursuant to the master settlement agreement.

(2) Beginning January 1, 2002, it is the duty of the state auditor to conduct or cause to be conducted program reviews and evaluations of the performance of each tobacco settlement program to determine whether the program is effectively and efficiently meeting its stated goals. The program reviews and evaluations shall subject all tobacco settlement programs to audit, whether operated directly by a state agency or by a private entity or by a local government agency.

(3) The state auditor may contract with one or more public or private entities to conduct the program reviews and evaluations and prepare the annual executive summary reports required in subsection (5) of this section.

(4) The joint budget committee staff, the legislative council staff, the office of legislative legal services, the department of public health and environment, and the health sciences facility shall work with the state auditor's office in conducting the program reviews and evaluations of tobacco settlement programs.

(5) Beginning December 15, 2002, the state auditor's office shall first submit to the legislative audit committee and then to the governor, the attorney general, the department of public health and environment, the joint budget committee, and the health and human services committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, reports on the program reviews and evaluations of tobacco settlement programs performed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. In addition, the state auditor's office shall submit to the health and human services committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, and to the department of public health and environment an annual executive summary of the program reviews and evaluations.

(6) The legislative audit committee shall design a schedule for reviewing tobacco settlement programs to ensure that each program is reviewed and evaluated as deemed necessary by the committee after consultation with the state auditor.

(7) Repealed.