1. (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:

   1. (a) Effective policy decisions can be made;
   2. (b) Line items in agency budgets can be identified by program function;
   3. (c) Decisions to increase or decrease agency budgets can be made with knowledge as to policy and programmatic impact; and
   4. (d) A more objective comparison can be made to the Governor’s budget.

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

   1. (a) The policies of state government regarding the definition and delivery of state services;
   2. (b) What program functions are necessary to state operations and the cost of these functions; and
   3. (c) The means whereby these policies and programs are administered.

3. (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:

   1. (a) Policy decisions are made by the Legislative Assembly as a whole;
   2. (b) Program functions are more closely identified with line items in agency budgets;
   3. (c) Funding options and priorities are defined in terms of policies; and
   4. (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]