(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that there is a need for a comprehensive, specific budget format available to all members of the Legislative Assembly so that:

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(a) Effective policy decisions can be made;

(b) Line items in agency budgets can be identified by program function;

(c) Decisions to increase or decrease agency budgets can be made with knowledge as to policy and programmatic impact; and

(d) A more objective comparison can be made to the Governor’s budget.

(2) The Legislative Assembly also finds that the goal of the legislative budgeting process is to afford members a thorough understanding of:

(a) The policies of state government regarding the definition and delivery of state services;

(b) What program functions are necessary to state operations and the cost of these functions; and

(c) The means whereby these policies and programs are administered.

(3) The goal of the Legislative Assembly is to decide, as a body, which policies and programs are necessary to discharge its public responsibilities. Consequently, the Legislative Assembly finds that there is a need to examine the legislative budgeting process so that:

(a) Policy decisions are made by the Legislative Assembly as a whole;

(b) Program functions are more closely identified with line items in agency budgets;

(c) Funding options and priorities are defined in terms of policies; and

(d) Legislative budgeting identifies programs which are necessary in terms of policies and state responsibilities, as opposed to the need to maintain existing program activities. [1989 c.652 § 1; 2016 c.117 § 37; subsection (4) renumbered 171.558 in 2019]