GPRA Mod Act of 2010 Explained: Part 4

The new law revises agency performance reporting requirements under GPRA by shifting its emphasis from annual reporting to more regular reporting. It also creates a forcing mechanism that requires OMB to take action on agency “unmet” goals.

Agency Performance Updates. According to the Senate committee report, the new law:

“. . . requires agencies to provide a performance update at least annually, occurring no later than 150 days after the end of the fiscal year. However, agencies are encouraged to provide more frequent updates that would provide significant value to the federal government, Congress, or – as noted in the statute: “. . . program partners at a reasonable level of administrative burden.”

OMB Assessment of Agency Performance. The new law also adds a new “review and respond” process to the agency performance reporting cycle, for those goals judged by OMB as being “unmet:”

“Each fiscal year, the Office of Management and Budget shall determine whether the agency programs or activities meet performance goals and objectives outlined in

the agency performance plans and submit a report on unmet goals to—

(1) the head of the agency;

(2) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;

(3) the Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform of the House of Representatives; and

(4) the Government Accountability Office.

If goals are unmet the first year. “If an agency’s programs or activities haven ot met performance goals as determined by the Office of Management and Budget for 1 fiscal year, the head of the agency shall submit a performance improvement plan to the Office of Management and Budget to increase program effectiveness for each unmet goal with measurable milestones. The agency shall designate a senior official who shall oversee the performance improvement strategies for each unmet goal.

If goals are unmet a second year. “If the Office of Management and Budget determines that agency programs or activities have unmet performance goals for 2 consecutive fiscal years, the head of the agency shall—

(A) submit to Congress a description of the actions the Administration will take to improve performance, including proposed statutory changes or planned executive actions; and

(B) describe any additional funding the agency will obligate to achieve the goal, if such an action is determined appropriate in consultation with the Director of theOffice of Management and Budget, for an amount determined appropriate by theDirector.”

“In providing additional funding . . . . the head of the agency shall use any reprogramming or transfer authority available to the agency. If after exercising such authority additional funding is necessary to achieve the level determined appropriate by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of the agency shall submit a request to Congress for additional reprogramming or transfer authority.

And if goals are not met a third year in a row. “If an agency’s programs or activities have not met performance goals as determined by the Office of Management and Budget for 3 consecutive fiscal years, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit recommendations to Congress on actions to improve performance not later than 60 days after that determination, including—

(1) reauthorization proposals for each program or activity that has not met performance goals;

(2) proposed statutory changes necessary for the program activities to achieve the proposed level of performance on each performance goal; and

(3) planned executive actions or identification of the program for termination or reduction in the President’s budget.’’

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If you are just joining this series, here’s a link back to the first blog post.

Graphic credit: Ayoi’s Blog