NCJ Number
59243
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
ISSUES INVOLVED IN TERMINATION OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BCOME INEFFECTIVE OR UNNECESSARY ARE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH PROPOSALS SUCH AS ZERO BASE BUDGETS AND SUNSET LAWS, ADVANCED FOR DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES.
Abstract
IN CONSIDERING TERMINATION, POLICYMAKERS MUST DETERMINE IMPACTS, DUE PROCESS, AND COSTS. THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS WILL INCLUDE FOUR MAJOR PHASES: THE ANALYTIC PHASE IN WHICH THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS MUST BE ASSESSED, THE POLITICAL DECISIONMAKING PHASE IN WHICH OPPOSITION AND THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT MUST BE CONSIDERED, THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, AND THE EVALUATION PHASE IN WHICH BOTH THE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES AND THE LONGER TERM EFFECTS ARE ASSESSED. STATE USE OF ZERO BASE BUDGETING AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO ENACT SUNSET LAWS ARE THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLES OF THE SERIOUS CONCERN FOR TERMINATION FOUND IN BOTH LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BODIES. BEFORE EITHER OF THESE APPROACHES CAN BE EFFECTIVE, PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE COSTS AND METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND FORECASTING, MUST BE RESOLVED. SUNSET LAWS MAY RESULT IN DETERIORATION OF BOTH QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SERVICES DURING THE END OF AN AGENCY'S TERM, UNLESS THE BASIC STANDARDS ENACTED ARE MODIFIED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THRESHOLDS OF SUCCESS, WHICH WOULD SET PERFORMANCE STANDARDS UNDER WHICH SUNSET WOULD BE SUSPENDED FOR AN AGENCY, BE INCORPORATED INTO SUNSET LEGISLATION TO PREVENT THIS DETERIORATION OF QUALITY. DESPITE THESE ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH RATIONAL METHODS FOR PROGRAM TERMINATION, THE COMMON IRRATIONAL DESIRE TO MAINTAIN OUTMODED STRUCTURES IS LIKELY TO REMAIN A STRONG FORCE IN DECISIONMAKING. FOOTNOTES INCLUDING REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES IN THIS VOLUME, SEE NCJ 59239-5942 AND 59244-59246. (CFW)