§ 42-128.1-12 - Independent evaluation.
SECTION 42-128.1-12
§ 42-128.1-12 Independent evaluation.– In order to assure the effectiveness of the lead hazard awareness mitigationprogram established by this chapter and to recommend any changes, which may benecessary to appropriate, the auditor general shall:
(1) Conduct a performance audit for the period endingDecember 31, 2003, of the duties and responsibilities assigned to the stateagencies and to political subdivisions by this chapter and by the LeadPoisoning Prevention Act, chapter 24.6 of title 23, and of the effectiveness ofthis chapter in meeting its purposes. The auditor general may contract withindependent firms and organizations with expertise in lead poisoning preventionand lead hazard mitigation to assist with the evaluation of matters set forthin this subsection.
(ii) The auditor general's report shall be submitted to thegovernor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, thechairperson of the housing resources commission and the director of health, onor before March 31, 2005, and shall contain, as appropriate, recommendations:(A) to make the programs established by this chapter and by the Lead PoisoningPrevention Act more effective in achieving their respective purposes; and (B)to address any unreasonable hardships caused by this chapter or likely to becaused by this chapter with its full implementation July 1, 2005.
(iii) The performance audit required by this subdivisionshall, in addition to the examination of effectiveness of administration andthe efficiency and adequacy of state agencies and political subdivisions in theperformance of their duties under this chapter and the Lead PoisoningPrevention Act, include consideration of the following matters:
(A) The number and type and date of public serviceannouncements required by § 42-128.1-6(1);
(B) The availability and distribution of education materialsspecified by § 42-128.1-6(2)(i);
(C) The number, date and location of lead hazard awarenessseminars and the number of persons who have participated in those seminars;
(D) The number of "mitigation inspectors," average length oftime necessary to conduct the inspections, the cost of meeting standards perinspection, and the availability of inspectors to conduct the inspections, at areasonable cost needed in the various geographic areas of the state;
(E) The availability of programs to assist property owners,especially low and moderate income property owners;
(2) Conduct a performance audit for the period ending June30, 2007, of the duties and responsibilities, as assigned by this chapter, tostate agencies and political subdivisions and of the effectiveness of thischapter in meeting its purposes, especially with regard to increasing thesupply of housing in which lead hazards have been mitigated and in reducing theincidence and severity of lead poisoning in Rhode Island. The auditor generalmay contract with independent firms and organizations with expertise in leadpoisoning prevention and lead hazard mitigation to assist with the evaluationof matters set forth in this chapter. The auditor general's report shall besubmitted to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of thesenate, the chairperson of the housing resources commission and the director ofhealth, on or before January 1, 2008, and shall contain, as appropriate,recommendations: (i) to make the programs established by this chapter moreeffective in achieving the respective purposes; and (ii) to redress anyunreasonable hardships caused by this chapter or likely to be caused by thischapter.