A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require a performance audit of the executive branch of state government.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly shall contract for a performance audit of the executive branch of State government, including The University System.  The goals of the audit are to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of State government and The University System and to identify specific ways to make improvements.  The audits may examine entire departments, agencies, or institutions, or similar programs in several departments.  The results of the audits shall be reported on or before February 1, 2008.  
The performance audit shall include an examination of the efficiency and effectiveness of major management policies, practices, and functions, including the following areas:
(1)	Planning, budgeting, and program evaluation policies and practices, including an analysis of the compliance of the executive branch and The University System with existing planning requirements, such as the Capital Improvement Planning Act, Article 1B of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
(2)	Personnel systems operations and management.
(3)	State purchasing operations and management.
(4)	Information technology and telecommunications systems policy, organization, and management.
(5)	Review of duplications and related or overlapping services or activities for the purpose of coordinating and streamlining programs to achieve consistent and clear objectives.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to contract for the performance audit required by this act.  These funds shall not revert at the end of the 2006‑2007 fiscal year but shall remain available for expenditure in the 2007‑2008 fiscal year for the performance audit required by this act.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.