H-793                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 833

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Sprenkle, Cooper, Jacobsen, Pruitt, Bristow, Valle, K. Wilson, Kremen, Cantwell, Grant, Crane, Ebersole, Todd, J. Williams, Sanders and P. King

Read first time 2/11/87 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to efficiency in government; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that government services should be delivered efficiently and that cost avoidance and cost effectiveness should be a significant focus in designing delivery for such services.  It is the intent of the legislature:  (a) To implement the S.T.E.P. program, the purpose of which is to strive towards excellence in performance; (b) to respond to specific agency requests on improving that agency's performance in a particular program or programs; (c) that measures be taken including but not limited to personnel adjustments, agency restructuring, adoption of new processes, revised bidding or purchasing methods, paperwork reduction, computerization, and elimination of unneccessary or obsolete institutions, equipment, or functions; and (d) that changes be implemented in order to maximize government efficiency.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) There is hereby created the Washington state efficiency study commission.

          (2) The commission shall be composed of:  (a) At least eight members appointed by the governor from among citizens in private sector business, industry, and professions of the state; (b) three members from the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and (c) three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) The commission shall conduct a private sector study of efficiency in the state government and shall advise the governor, the legislature, and other state government department and agency heads with respect to improving management and reducing costs.

          (2) In fulfilling its undertaking the commission shall make recommendations containing:

          (a) Opportunities for increased efficiency and reduced costs in state government that can be realized by executive action and legislation;

          (b) Areas where managerial accountability can be enhanced and administrative control can be improved;

          (c) Opportunities for managerial improvements over both the short and long term;

          (d) Specific areas where further study can be justified by potential savings; and

          (e) Information and data relating to governmental expenditures, indebtedness, and personnel management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     (1) The heads of the state departments and agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide to the commission, its consultants, and its staff such information as may be required or desired by the commission in carrying out the purposes of this act.

          (2) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

          (3) The office of the governor shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of funds, provide the commission with such facilities, services, and other support as it may require for carrying out the purpose of this act.

          (4) The commission shall be funded, staffed, and equipped, by contributions received by it from the private sector and without cost to the state government.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The commission will present its recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and the office of financial management by no later than November 13, 1988.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     The office of financial management shall review the recommendations made by the commission and recommend to the governor and legislature ways and means for implementing the same.  Such recommendations as are approved by the governor shall be implemented by the office of financial management when, and to the extent, directed by the governor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     This act shall expire December 31, 1989.