SB 317

This act adds Chapter 2B to Title 29, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) recreate the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services as a legislative department; (2) substantially revise the provisions governing the operation and providing the duties of the commission, including the preparation and publication of program evaluations; (3) establish the Legislative Committee on the Evaluation of Services as a continuing legislative committee to supervise the commission; (4) create the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services Fund in the State Treasury from which the commission is to operate, to be funded through appropriations from the Legislature; (5) authorize the Legislature to require the commission to evaluate a specific proposed or existing program or policy or line item through an appropriations act or the Joint Legislative Committee on Finance and Budget; (6) require the Legislative Services Agency to identify after certain legislative sessions each new or expanded program for which an agency received an appropriation and notify the commission; (7) require each state agency to prepare and submit to the commission an evaluation plan for each such new or expanded program; and (8) provide for the appointment of a director of the commission. This act also repeals Chapter 2A of Title 29 of the Code of Alabama 1975, which established and provided for the previous commission.