NLPES Awards Program

Arizona Wins 2000 NLPES Excellence in Legislative Program Evaluation Award

2000

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAM EVALUATION

OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL

Debra K. Davenport, Auditor General

The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society presents its 2000 Award for Excellence in Legislative Program Evaluation to the Arizona Office of the Auditor General's Performance Audit Division. Arizona's winning submission is entitled Arizona State Hospital, Performance Audit, May 1999.

The Arizona Office of the Auditor General was established in 1969 to conduct financial, compliance, performance, and sunset audits, among other its duties. The Performance Audit Division currently has a staff of about 50.

Arizona's 1999 performance audit of the Arizona State Hospital used several innovative approaches to present needed information to lawmakers, the Governor, and interested citizens. A written report and an accompanying video tape presentation brought attention to serious, long-standing problems at the state hospital, and provided a convenient and interesting way to educate lawmakers and the Governor about key issues. The report was also published simultaneously on the Auditor General's Web site, thereby increasing its exposure to interested parties. Photographs and other graphics in the written report, along with the video images of hospital conditions, conveyed the true nature of the hospital's problems in a way that words alone could not. A year after the report was issued, the hospital had made substantial progress in adding more staff and improving patient units. Ultimately, after extensive discussions, the Legislature and the Governor reached an agreement to fund construction of a new hospital.

NLPES commends the Arizona Office of the Auditor General for its years of service to the Arizona Legislature and its many contributions to the field of legislative program evaluation.