The General Assembly created the Program Evaluation Division — a central, non-partisan staff unit of the Legislative Services Commission — and the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee in June 2007 through Session Law 2007-78. The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee oversees formal evaluation by the Program Evaluation Division.

The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee, in consultation with the Division Director, determines evaluation topics and establishes the work plan of the Division. Evaluations examine what programs are really doing, at what cost, and to what effect, if any. The Division recommends policy options for consideration by the General Assembly for programs that are determined ineffective or no longer necessary. The Division follows up to determine if recommendations have been implemented by agencies or if further action is needed by the General Assembly.

The following chart shows how topics are selected.