Idaho § 67-461 - Conduct of and issuance of performance evaluation reports

§ 67-461. Conduct of and issuance of performance evaluation reports

(1) In conducting a performance evaluation, the director of legislative performance evaluations shall obtain an overview of the operations of the agency or program.

(a) The survey phase will develop background information, including roles and identities of key personnel, identify actual and potential financial, managerial and operational problem areas and determine whether and to what extent detailed audit tests may be required in each specific area.

(b) In consultation with the agency or program, the director of legislative performance evaluations will develop a performance evaluation work plan.

(2) Prior to the presentation of any performance evaluation to the committee, the evaluated agency and the governor shall have an opportunity to review the performance evaluation report and issue a response.

(a) The response of the agency and the governor to the performance evaluation report shall be included in the final report when it is presented to the committee.

(b) All documents, writings and information transmitted pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed confidential and shall not be released to the public prior to the time the committee issues its performance evaluation report pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(c) Any person violating the provisions of this subsection regarding confidentiality shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(3) The committee shall issue performance evaluation reports, favorable or unfavorable, of any state agency, and such reports shall be a public record except that:

(a) Prior to the release of a performance evaluation report or the point at which a performance evaluation is no longer being actively pursued, all papers, physical and electronic records and correspondence and other supporting materials comprising the work papers in the possession of the director of legislative performance evaluations or other entity charged with the preparation of a performance evaluation report shall be confidential and exempt from disclosure pursuant to chapter 1, title 74 , Idaho Code.

(b) All other records or materials in the possession of the director of legislative performance evaluations or other entity charged with the preparation of a performance evaluation report that would otherwise be confidential or exempt from disclosure shall be exempt from disclosure pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1, title 74 , Idaho Code.

(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit or prevent public access to state agency records in the possession of the director of legislative performance evaluations that would otherwise be subject to disclosure pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1, title 74 , Idaho Code. The director of legislative performance evaluations shall refer requests for access to those records directly to the state agency that is the official custodian of the requested records, which shall be responsible for responding to the request for public records.

(4) If data supplied by an individual are needed to initiate, continue or complete a performance evaluation, the director of legislative performance evaluations may by written memorandum to the file provide that the individual’s identity will remain confidential and exempt from disclosure under chapter 1, title 74 , Idaho Code, and this written memorandum will protect the identity of the person from disclosure under chapter 1, title 74 , Idaho Code, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary.

(5) A final copy of the report, including recommendations, the evaluated agency’s response, and the governor’s response, shall be submitted to the governor and to the official, officer or person in charge of the state agency examined at least one (1) day prior to its release, and shall be made available to each member of the legislature no later than one (1) day following the report’s receipt by the joint legislative oversight committee.

(6) The committee may meet in executive session to consider whether to direct the director of legislative performance evaluations to initiate or continue a performance evaluation or to receive or consider materials exempt from disclosure under subsection (2), (3) or (4) of this section.

[67-461, added 1993, ch. 327, sec. 3, p. 1192; am. 1994, ch. 180, sec. 170, p. 534; am. 1996, ch. 65, sec. 4, p. 191; am. 1996, ch. 226, sec. 1, p. 740; am. 2000, ch. 429, sec. 1, p. 1385; am. 2000, ch. 430, sec. 1, p. 1386; am. 2015, ch. 141, sec. 166, p. 511.]