Section 328 - Accountability

34 PA Cons Stat § 328 (2019) (N/A)
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(a) Relationship with public.--The commission shall implement policies and programs to improve its relationship with the general public and with its licensees in accordance with its strategic plan.

(b) Program accountability.--The commission shall require program accountability of its various functions through program performance measurement in accordance with its strategic plan.

(c) Financial accountability.--The commission shall improve the financial accountability of its various functions through performance measurement in accordance with its strategic plan.

(d) Law enforcement accountability.--The commission shall maintain a system to respond to citizen complaints against wildlife conservation officers and deputy wildlife conservation officers. The commission shall release information relating to the number and nature of complaints received on at least an annual basis. The commission may release further information related to the nature of the complaints, provided that the release of such information is not prohibited or restricted by any contract, regulation, order of court or statute to the contrary.

(e) Reports to General Assembly.--No later than January 31 of each year the commission through its executive director shall make annual written reports on the matters described in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) to the Game and Fisheries Committee of the Senate and the Game and Fisheries Committee of the House of Representatives. The commission shall meet with the respective committees of the General Assembly to receive oral testimony in relation to annual written reports when so requested.

(f) Financial analysis.--

(1) Within 180 days of the effective date of this subsection, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall prepare a financial analysis of fees, fines, penalties, royalties, Federal and State appropriations and other sources of revenue received by the commission and of expenditures, including annual operating costs, investments, land purchases and capital projects, to carry out the financial analysis under this subsection:

(i) The commission shall provide records, financial statements and other documents reflecting the revenue and expenditures subject to the financial analysis under this subsection.

(ii) The commission shall respond to inquiries and requests for information from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee in a timely manner.

(iii) The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall include its most recent performance audit under section 522(b) (relating to appropriation and audit of moneys).

(2) The financial analysis shall be submitted to the President pro tempore of the Senate, chair of the Game and Fisheries Committee of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and chair of the Game and Fisheries Committee of the House of Representatives. The financial analysis shall be public information.

(Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1274, No.166, eff. imd.; Nov. 27, 2019, P.L.739, No.107, eff. 90 days)

2019 Amendment. Act 107 added subsec. (f).

1998 Amendment. Act 166 added section 328.

Cross References. Section 328 is referred to in section 522 of this title.