Sec. 1. 3 MRSA c. 37 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 37

LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS

§991.__Joint Legislative Oversight Committee established

The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, established in Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 26-F, is created for the purpose of providing program evaluation of agencies and programs of State Government. The committee also is established to ensure that funds provided to local and county governments, quasi- municipal governments, special districts, utility districts, regional development agencies or any municipal or nonprofit corporation are expended for the purposes for which they were allocated, appropriated or contracted. The committee may also examine or direct an examination of any state contractor financed in whole or part by public funds and any expenditure by any public official or public employee during the course of public duty, including, but not limited to, any expenditure of private money for agency purposes.

§992.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Committee.__"Committee" means the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee.

2.__Director.__"Director" means the Director of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability.

3.__Office.__"Office" means the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability established in section 995.

4.__Other entity.__"Other entity" means any public or private entity in this State that may be subject to program evaluation under this chapter as the result of its receipt or expenditure of public funds.

5.__Program evaluation.__"Program evaluation" means an examination of any government program that includes performance audits, management analysis, inspections, operations or research or examinations of efficiency, effectiveness, or economy and, when determined necessary by the committee, financial audits and post-audits.