In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Agency” means an entity of the Executive Branch of State government. “Goal” means a broad statement that describes the desired long–term results toward which an agency directs its efforts. Goals support, clarify, and provide direction to the agency’s mission and assist in the application of State resources toward implementation of the managing for results State comprehensive plan. “Managing for results” means a planning, performance measurement, and budgeting process that emphasizes use of resources to achieve measurable results, accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement in State government programs. “Mission” means the purpose for an agency’s existence and includes a description of what an agency does and for whom it does it. “Objective” means a specific and measurable short–term target for achievement of an agency’s goals and includes a description of the desired results and a target date for accomplishment. “Performance measure” means a quantitative or qualitative indicator used to assess whether an agency is meeting its goals and objectives. “Performance measure” includes the following: an efficiency measure that quantifies the relationship between measures of the inputs used to produce goods or services and the measures of the outputs of these activities; an input measure that quantifies the amount of resources used to provide goods and services; an outcome measure that quantifies the results an agency achieves or the benefits citizens receive from an agency’s activities; an output measure that quantifies the amount of goods and services produced by the agency; and a quality measure that quantifies or describes: the effectiveness of the agency in meeting agency objectives; aspects of the satisfaction that customers may or may not have with State goods or services; or how State goods or services compare to some external or internal standard. “State comprehensive plan” means a statement of goals which serve as a broad directive for improving or making more cost effective State resources and services. The plan shall include no more than 10 statewide goals and 50 to 100 performance measures that describe the statewide progress towards its goals. “StateStat” means the accountability process described in § 3–1003(b) of this subtitle. “Strategic plan” means a statement of direction implemented by an agency to carry out its mission.

The Department shall review and update as necessary: the goals developed in the managing for results State comprehensive plan; and the plan’s objectives and performance measures. Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, on or before July 1 of each year an agency, in conjunction with the Department, shall select no more than six agency goals that are: compatible with the managing for results State comprehensive plan; or consistent with the agency’s mission if the goals identified in the managing for results State comprehensive plan do not apply to the agency. Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, with its annual budget submission to the Department, an agency shall develop and submit to the Department as part of the budget process a managing for results agency strategic plan that shall include: a mission statement; a description of the agency’s goals; a description of the objectives and performance measures implemented at the program level to achieve the agency’s goals, including: performance measure statistics for at least the 2 most recently completed fiscal years; and performance measure estimates for the current year appropriation and budget request year; a discussion of the agency’s progress in meeting its goals and performance measures and any challenges the agency has faced in working toward its goals; a description of the internal controls established to ensure reliability of the data collected for each performance measure; and an identification of the customers and stakeholders served. An agency subject to this subtitle shall maintain documentation of the internal controls established to evaluate performance measures that shall be subject to review by the State, including the Office of Legislative Audits. The Department shall provide a report to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and House Appropriations Committee in January of each year on the contents of the State comprehensive plan and the State’s progress toward the goals outlined in the plan. The report shall include details on each agency’s progress. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and House Appropriations Committee may hold hearings after receiving the report. The first report shall be submitted on or before January 31, 2005 and shall include a presentation of the first managing for results State comprehensive plan.

The Secretary shall review the strategic plans and the State comprehensive plan and may recommend appropriate changes to agency budgets. There is a StateStat process that is managed by the Executive Branch. StateStat is an accountability process that involves: the adoption of a strategic plan and the establishment of goals by an agency; the adoption of a comprehensive set of performance and citizen satisfaction measurements by an agency; regular and frequent: submission of timely and accurate data by an agency; review and analysis of submitted data; and accountability meetings to assess an agency’s performance; continuous review of the strategies and tactics used by an agency to meet the goals of the agency; and continuous assessment of the progress of an agency towards meeting the goals of the agency. The Governor may require an agency to participate in the StateStat process to help facilitate and accelerate the achievement of managing for results goals and objectives. Each agency that participates in the StateStat process shall submit a strategic plan and performance measurement report to the Secretary as part of its annual budget submission. The report submitted by each agency that participates in the StateStat process shall contain the information required in § 3–1002(c) of this subtitle.