In October, a delegation of legislators and legislative staff from Oklahoma traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, to learn about the state’s Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER), a standing committee of the Mississippi Legislature. Participants received briefings from PEER Committee staff and met with Speaker Pro Tempore Greg Snowden.

Created by statute in 1973, PEER assists the Legislature in performing its oversight function by providing data and investigation of state government operations. The PEER Committee analyzes state agency programs and operations for the Legislature to use to improve government effectiveness, efficiency and accountability. Work products created by PEER include performance evaluations, investigations and expenditure reviews. The PEER Committee comprises seven members from each chamber and employs 23 staff members.

Briefing topics included the creation and history of the PEER Committee, Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994, PEER’s partnership with the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative, “Measuring Mississippi” Data Analysis Tool and tips for creating a legislative oversight committee.

Presenters from PEER included James Barber, executive director; Ted Booth, general counsel; and Linda Triplett, director of the Performance Accountability Office.