H-4484.1  _______________________________________________

                 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4429

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives D. Schmidt, Wolfe, Dunshee, Doumit, Scott, D. Sommers, L. Thomas, Wensman, Gardner, Smith, Alexander, Backlund and Koster

Read first time 01/26/98.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Creating a joint task force on managed competition and quality initiatives for government services.

    WHEREAS, It is important for government to provide high quality services in an efficient and cost-effective manner, recognizing the value and competence of both public employees and private employees; and

    WHEREAS, Many innovative procedures are being developed and utilized across the nation to provide high quality services in an efficient and cost-effective manner, recognizing the value and competence of both public employees and private employees; and

    WHEREAS, It is important to provide state and local levels of government with flexible procedures and options to provide high quality services in an efficient and cost-effective manner, recognizing the value and competence of both public employees and private employees;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a joint task force on managed competition and quality initiatives for government services is created and composed of thirteen voting members as follows:  (1) Two members shall be members of the house of representatives, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; (2) two members shall be members of the senate, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the president of the senate; (3) one appointee of the governor; (4) one member shall be appointed by the Washington federation of state employees; (5) one member shall be appointed by the Washington public employees association; (6) one member shall be appointed by the Washington state council of county and city employees; (7) one member shall be appointed by the association of Washington cities; (8) one member shall be appointed by the Washington state association of counties; and (9) three members shall be appointed by the association of Washington business; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That nonlegislative members of the joint task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 44.04.120.  The staff of the senate committee services and office of program research of the house of representatives shall provide staff support to the joint task force; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint task force shall be cochaired by one senator, chosen by the task force, and one state representative, chosen by the task force.  The cochairs shall be from opposite parties.  A quorum for any meeting or hearing shall be seven members.  The cochairs may appoint experts and advisors as nonvoting members of the joint task force to provide input on various subjects.  Any final findings, conclusions, or recommendations of the joint task force must be agreed to by at least seven members, but minority findings, conclusions, or recommendations may be included that are submitted by any member or group of members.  The open public meetings act shall apply to all meetings and hearings of the joint task force.  Rules of procedure shall be established at the first meeting of the joint task force; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint task force shall complete a thorough study of the provision of government services using managed competition, quality and efficiency programs from the public and private sectors, and alternative financing for government services; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint task force shall convene commencing July 1, 1998, periodically report its findings and any recommendations to the legislature, and shall present a final report to the legislature by December 31, 2000; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint task force shall be dissolved on December 31, 2000.

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