Date: 10/20/2009

Final
Bill 4

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION TASK FORCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Bill 4 to the Legislative Council wPASS



09:37 AM -- Bill 4

Senator Boyd explained the effect of Bill 4, concerning authorizing the Department of Human Services to use a portion of existing appropriations to conduct an independent evaluation of the Statewide Strategic Use Fund (Attachment F). Senator Boyd responded to questions regarding the need for an independent evaluation of the fund's programming if an evaluation is already taking place of the constituent parts of the program. Senator Boyd provided clarification regarding the genesis of the bill, and how the bill will serve to reduce poverty. Discussion ensued regarding existing evaluation of the programming operated with Statewide Strategic Use Fund moneys, and appropriate levels of expenditures for evaluating state programs. Mr. Bill Hanna, representing the Department of Human Services, was called upon to provide clarification regarding the need for Bill 4. Mr. Hanna discussed the lack of evaluation of the use of fund moneys under current law, and the need for an independent evaluation. Mr. Hanna responded to questions regarding criticism of the effectiveness of the use of Statewide Strategic Use Fund moneys, and provided background on programs funded with fund moneys.

091020AttachF.pdf


09:49 AM

Discussion continued regarding the need for an independent evaluation of the use of Statewide Strategic Use Fund moneys, and the benefits of being proactive in evaluating the fund's operation. Mr. Hanna responded to questions regarding the criteria that would be considered under an evaluation of the fund. Discussion ensued regarding a similar evaluation process conducted by the Tony Grampsas Youth Services program. Mr. Hanna responded to questions regarding a comparison of the criteria that would be considered under the bill's independent evaluation and the criteria considered under the fund's current evaluation process. Discussion followed regarding the potential for public input concerning the use of Statewide Strategic Use Fund moneys through the evaluation process established by Bill 4. Discussion ensued regarding the impact of the evaluation process on poverty reduction.


10:01 AM

Discussion returned to the need for an independent evaluation of the Statewide Strategic Use Fund, and the potential for an evaluation to improve the use of fund moneys. Mr. Hanna provided clarification regarding the differing metrics of the current fund evaluation process and the process to be implemented under Bill 4. Mr. Hanna responded to further questions regarding the current feedback process for program effectiveness, and how this will be affected by the bill.


10:12 AM

Mr. Hanna responded to questions regarding the external nature of the evaluation that would be conducted under Bill 4.


BILL:Bill 4
TIME: 10:12:52 AM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Moved to refer Bill 4 to the Legislative Council with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 7-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:White
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Gagliardi
No
Hudak
No
Kagan
Yes
Scheffel
No
Summers
Yes
Waller
Yes
White
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




10:13 AM

Discussion ensued regarding sponsorship for Bill 4 and other details.