HB339: Budget development; each state agency to submit a prioritized list of its programs to Governor.

HOUSE BILL NO. 339
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 10, 2012
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-1504 of the Code of Virginia, relating to state agencies submitting to the Governor a prioritized list of the programs performed by the agency.
Patron-- Wilt

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 2.2-1504 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.2-1504. Estimates by state agencies of amounts needed.

A. Biennially in the odd-numbered years, on a date established by the Governor, each of the several state agencies and other agencies and undertakings receiving or asking financial aid from the Commonwealth shall report to the Governor, through the responsible secretary designated by statute or executive order, in a format prescribed for such purpose, an estimate in itemized form in accordance with the expenditure classification adopted by the Governor, showing the amount needed for each year of the ensuing biennial period beginning with the first day of July. The Governor may prescribe targets that shall not be exceeded in the official estimate of each agency; however, an agency may submit to the Governor a request for an amount exceeding the target as an addendum to its official budget estimate.

Together with the submission to the Governor of such estimate of amounts needed for the ensuing biennial period, each such agency shall also submit to the Governor a numerically prioritized list of the programs performed by the state agency that have as a primary objective the delivering of certain goods or services to the citizens of the Commonwealth. Priority ordering of such programs shall be determined by the extent to which each program is essential to the mission of the agency and the citizens of the Commonwealth.

B. Each agency or undertaking required to submit a biennial estimate pursuant to subsection A shall simultaneously submit an estimate of the amount that will be needed for the two succeeding biennial periods beginning July 1 of the third year following the year in which the estimate is submitted. The Department shall provide, within thirty 30 days following receipt, copies of all agency estimates provided under this subsection and copies of all numerically prioritized lists of agency programs described in subsection A to the chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance.

C. The format used in making these estimates shall (i) be prescribed by the Governor, shall (ii) be uniform for all agencies, and (iii) clearly designate the kind of information to be given. The Governor may prescribe a different format for estimates from institutions of higher education, which format shall be uniform for all such institutions and shall clearly designate the kind of information to be provided.