Performance review of departmental activities and divisions; annual report; accountability; recommendations for accomplishment of purposes

(a) In order to insure that the department of commerce is effectively administering this act, the department shall cooperate with the standing committee on commerce of the senate and the standing committee on commerce, labor and economic development of the house of representatives in the performance of an independent performance review of the activities of the department and the departmental divisions. The review shall include, but not be limited to: (1) An assessment of the impacts of the department's programs corresponding to the strategic plans of the department and the departmental divisions; (2) a comparative assessment of the relative impact of the department's programs with similar programs in other states; and (3) a comparative assessment of the targeting of the department's programs by size and sector of economic activity, and by location in different areas of the state. The review shall be completed or updated at least once every three years. (b) On or before October 1, the department shall prepare and publish an annual report, which shall be made widely available, of its activities and expenditures for the information of the governor, the standing committee on commerce of the senate, the standing committee on commerce, labor and economic development of the house of representatives and the public, and shall, from time to time, submit recommendations to the governor concerning legislation found to be necessary or desirable in effecting the purposes of this act. The annual report shall include any information which the department is required to report by law. The annual report shall specifically account for the ways in which the purposes of the department and its divisions as described in this act have been achieved, and the recommendations shall specifically note what changes in the activities of the department and its divisions, and of state government are necessary to better address the purposes described in this act. The annual report to the standing committee on commerce of the senate and the standing committee on commerce, labor and economic development of the house of representatives shall be made by the department either: (1) By publishing such report on the internet and by notifying each member of the committees that the report is available and providing, as part of such notice, the uniform resource locator (URL) at which such report is available; or (2) by submitting copies of such report on CD-ROM or other electronically readable media to such committees.