§ 8-13-103 — Requirements for comprehensive analysis and strategic planning

(a) Any reorganization of the functions and duties for the conduct of environmental affairs through the provisions of this chapter shall be based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing operations of the Division of Environmental Quality and the development of a ten-year strategic plan for Division of Environmental Quality operations. Such strategic plan shall be reviewed and updated on an annual basis and shall be made available for public review through formal notice. (b) The comprehensive analysis of each division, function, and duty shall consist of the following requirements: (1) A comprehensive analysis of each existing division, function, and duty performed by the Division of Environmental Quality in providing environmental services; and (2) A comprehensive comparative analysis of the functions and duties to be performed through the proposed alternative organization with regard to improved efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness, and accountability to the people. (c) (1) The strategic plan shall outline a management organization for the Division of Environmental Quality that promotes environmental protection and enhancement. (2) Such management organization shall consist of the following requirements: (A) To establish an integrated agency information system that: (i) Ensures compatibility between state standards and facility identification and location data standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; (ii) Reduces reporting and record-keeping burdens on industry; (iii) Establishes a public participation process to define and adopt reporting and data management reforms; (iv) Measures improvements in waste reduction recycling of waste materials, conservation and reuse of resources, and pollution prevention; and (v) Expands public access to environmental performance information; (B) (i) To institute environmental performance indicators to measure progress in protecting and enhancing the environment. (ii) Such indicators shall emphasize waste reduction, recycling of waste materials, conservation and reuse of materials, and pollution prevention, and shall be formulated using numeric goals and expressed in plain language terms. (iii) Such indicators shall be developed by a work group appointed by the Director of the Division of Environmental Quality consisting of representatives of the Division of Environmental Quality working in collaboration with representatives from state and federal agencies, city and county officials, nonprofit organizations, minority groups, industry, colleges and universities, civic groups, and other stakeholders in environmental affairs; (C) To organize the Division of Environmental Quality according to business functions and duties; (D) To establish a performance-based financial management system that links expenditures within divisions, functions, and duties to environmental protection and enhancement; and (E) To embody the above elements into a reorganization plan which provides for the scheduling of any transfer of functions and duties, acquisition of equipment, development of procedures, programming, records, documents, properties, assets, funds, liabilities, and bonding resulting from the proposed changes.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 3026, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 3025, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 3024, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 3023, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 3022, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 1999, No. 1316, § 1.