143B-216.56. Duties of the Office of Program Evaluation Reporting and Accountability.

The Office of Program Evaluation Reporting and Accountability has the following duties:

(1) To assess the evidentiary basis of all Department programs as recommended by Evidence-Based Policymaking: A Guide for Effective Government, a project of the Results First Initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

(2) To identify and evaluate any Department program when directed by the General Assembly, the Secretary, or as deemed necessary by the Director.

(3) To develop an Internet Web site containing an inventory of departmental programs consisting of the program name and a link to a program profile. For each program, the profile must contain, at a minimum, all of the following:

a. Legal authority for the program.

b. Program performance for the past five fiscal years and year to date for the current fiscal year:

1. Outcome. - The verifiable quantitative effects or results attributable to the program compared to a performance standard.

2. Output. - The verifiable number of units of services or activities compared to a standard.

3. Efficiency. - The verifiable total direct and indirect cost per output and per outcome compared to a standard.

4. Performance standard. - A quantitative indicator based upon best practices, generally recognized standards, or comparisons with relevant programs in other states or regions for gauging achievement of efficiency, output, and outcomes.

5. Benchmarks. - A broad societal indicator used for gauging ultimate outcomes of the program, such as U.S. Census data.

c. Funding by source for the current and previous five fiscal years.

d. Listing of filled and vacant employee positions as specified by the Office of State Budget and Management.

e. Listing of contracts during the previous fiscal year and of the current fiscal year to date with individuals and firms and the actual and authorized cost, funding source, and purposes of those contracts.

f. Categorization by evidence of effectiveness as determined by the Office.

g. Potential return on investment of each program.

h. Findings and recommendations from internal and external State or federal audits, Office program assessments, and program evaluations.

(4) To assure that the Office Internet Web site allows users to list all of the following:

a. Programs that exceeded, met, or did not meet performance standards for efficiency, outputs, and outcomes for the immediate preceding fiscal year.

b. Programs by category of evidence of effectiveness.

c. Programs by potential return on investment.

d. Programs listed in a manner determined useful by the Office.

(5) To cooperate with and respond promptly to requests for program-level data and information from the Office of State Budget and Management, the Fiscal Research and Program Evaluation Divisions of the Legislative Services Office, and the State Auditor.