(1) The committee shall apply the screening criteria prescribed in section 50-1207 to each request for a program evaluation and shall approve or reject, by majority vote, each request. When the committee approves a request, it shall adopt, by majority vote, a formal scope statement identifying the parameters of the program evaluation. No program evaluation shall be undertaken until the committee has adopted a formal scope statement.
(2) The unit shall be limited to the areas of inquiry outlined in the formal scope statement in conducting the program evaluation. If the program evaluation reveals additional possible areas of inquiry, the unit director may request that the committee expand the formal scope statement. A majority vote of the committee shall be required to amend a formal scope statement.
(3) Once the committee has adopted a formal scope statement, the unit shall develop a formal evaluation plan. The formal evaluation plan shall include a description of the research and evaluation methodologies to be employed, a projected timetable for completion of the project in stages, and a timetable for submission of brief, written periodic progress reports to the committee. The formal evaluation plan shall be submitted to the committee within thirty days after the date of approval of the formal scope statement, and a majority vote of the committee shall be required for its approval.
(4) Once the committee has approved a formal evaluation plan, the agency shall be notified in writing that a program evaluation will be conducted. The notification shall detail the scope of the program evaluation and the projected timetable and shall contain a copy of the statutes which provide for the program evaluation process. Copies of the agency notification shall be forwarded to the agency director, the program director when relevant, and the Governor.