S-492                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3806

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Zimmerman, Newhouse, McCaslin, Deccio, McDonald, Guess, Barr, Benitz and Hayner

Read first time 2/6/85 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to state government; adding a new section to chapter 43.17 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.17 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Prior to submittal of a reorganization plan or plans under Article III, section 26 of the state Constitution, the governor shall enter into contract with a professional management consulting firm to make recommendations to the governor.  The governor shall consult with representatives of the majority and minority caucuses in the house of representatives and senate prior to selecting the management firm.  The firm selected by the governor shall have demonstrated expertise in the area of public administration.  The governor shall submit the consultant's report to the legislature along with the proposed reorganization plan.

          (2) The recommendations made by the management firm shall accomplish one or more of the following goals:

          (a) Improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and service delivery of state agencies;

          (b) Improve public access to state government and the responsiveness of the state to its citizens;

          (c) Enhance executive control and accountability;

          (d) Eliminate unnecessary and redundant agencies, boards, and administrative structures; and

          (e) Permit increased organizational flexibility in state government to respond to rapidly changing federal, state, and local program demands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act shall take effect on January 1, 1986, if the proposed amendment to Article III of the state Constitution authorizing reorganization of the executive branch is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at a general election held in November 1985.  If the proposed amendment is not so approved and ratified, this act shall be null and void in its entirety.