Bill Text: GA HB44 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Budget Act; application of zero-based budgeting; provisions

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-04-20 - Senate Committee Favorably Reported [HB44 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB44-Comm_Sub.html

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09 LC 34 2228S

House Bill 44 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

By: Representatives Graves of the 12th, Loudermilk of the 14th, Ramsey of the 72nd, Scott of the 2nd, Levitas of the 82nd, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the "Budget Act," so as to provide for the application of zero-base budgeting to the budget process; to provide for analysis of departmental and program objectives; to provide for consideration of alternative funding levels; to provide for departmental priority lists; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the "Budget Act," is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"45-12-75.1.

(a) The Governor in preparing his or her budget report under Code Section 45-12-75, and budget units in preparing their budget estimates under Code Section 45-12-78, shall make use of zero-base budgeting as provided in this Code section. The requirements of this Code section shall apply with respect to the budget report presented to the General Assembly in January of 2010 and each year thereafter.

(b) It is the intent of this Code section that in any given year the Governor's budget report shall include zero-base budgeting for no more than one-third nor less than one-quarter of all the programs in the most recently passed General Appropriations Act. The Office of Planning and Budget shall determine which programs shall submit zero-base budget recommendations in each year, except that no program shall use zero-base budgeting more often than once every three years, and each program shall use zero-base budgeting at least once every four years.

(c) In the years in which zero-base budgeting applies, each budget unit shall include in its budget estimate an analysis summarizing past and proposed spending plans by program and revenue source. Information presented shall include the following:

(1) A statement of the budget unit's departmental and program purposes; effectiveness, efficiency, and equity measures; and program size indicators;

(2) At least three alternative funding levels for each program and revenue source with effectiveness, efficiency, and equity measures and program size indicators detailed for each alternative funding level; and

(3) A priority listing encompassing all alternative funding levels for all programs.

(d) In the years in which zero-base budgeting applies, the Governor shall include in the budget report relevant materials related to each budget unit's submission under subsection (c) of this Code section and such other relevant material as deemed appropriate by the Governor.

(e) Without in any way limiting the generality of the other provisions of this Code section, it is specifically provided that the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia shall be a budget unit subject to this Code section and the programs of the board of regents shall be periodically subject to zero-base budgeting as provided for in this Code section.

(f) Without in any way limiting the generality of the other provisions of this Code section, it is specifically provided that in the budget report presented to the General Assembly in January of 2010 the Department of Education's budget shall be submitted as a zero-base budget according to the guidelines contained in this Code section."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.