(1) The general assembly finds that state government actions have produced a substantial increase in numbers of agencies, growth of programs, and proliferation of rules and regulations and that the whole process developed without sufficient legislative oversight, regulatory accountability, or a system of checks and balances. The general assembly further finds that by establishing a system for review, it will be in a better position to evaluate the need for modification of the department of personnel, referred to in this section as the "department", and for modification of the rules and regulations of the board.
(2) (a) The legislative audit committee shall cause to be conducted a performance audit of the department and the board. The performance audit shall be completed at least seven months prior to July 1, 1981. In conducting the audit, the legislative audit committee shall take into consideration, but not be limited to considering, the factors listed in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of this section. Upon completion of the audit report, the legislative audit committee shall hold a public hearing for purposes of review of the report.
(b) A further performance audit as required in this section shall be completed at least seven months before July 1, 2020, and shall be completed thereafter at the discretion of the state auditor.
(3) (a) Committees of reference in each house of the general assembly shall hold public hearings, receiving testimony from the public, the state personnel director, and the chairman of the board, and in such a hearing the department and the board shall have the burden of demonstrating the extent to which a change in the administration, rules and regulations, or operations of the department or the board may increase the efficiency of administration or operation of the department or the board.
(b) In such hearing, the committee shall take into consideration the following factors, among others:
The extent to which the department and the board have operated in the public interestand economy, and the extent to which their operations have been impeded or enhanced by existing statutes, procedures, and any other circumstances, including budgetary, resource, and personnel matters;
The extent to which the department and the board have recommended statutory changes to the general assembly which would benefit the public as opposed to the persons they regulate;
The extent to which the board has adopted rules and regulations, procedures, orpractices which enhance or impede the efficiency or economy of state government;
The efficiency with which formal complaints filed with the department or the boardconcerning regulation policies, procedures, or practices have been processed to completion by the department or the board and the decisions thereof;
The effectiveness of the department and the board in implementing incentive systems to reward and encourage excellence in public service, particularly in middle and top management levels;
The effectiveness of the department or the board in filling job vacancies;
The effectiveness of staffing levels of the department, particularly in view of thedecentralization of functions of the department to other departments of state government;
The effectiveness of the department and the board as perceived by executive directors of other departments of state government and members of the general assembly;
The extent to which changes are necessary in the enabling laws of the department orthe board to adequately comply with the factors listed in this paragraph (b); and
The extent to which the authority of the department or the board should be or hasbeen restricted by the annual general appropriation bill.
Source: L. 79: Entire section added, p. 942, § 1, effective July 1. L. 96: (2) amended, p. 1269, § 196, effective August 7. L. 2016: (2) amended, (HB 16-1086), ch. 27, p. 62, § 1, effective August 10.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 1996 act amending subsection (2), see section 1 of chapter 237, Session Laws of Colorado 1996.