BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the citizens' alliance for government accountability; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; making an appropriation; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the state of Washington is nationally recognized in the areas of financial management, capital management, human resources, and managing for results and information technology; that the executive branch of state government has undertaken regulatory reform efforts, performance-based budgeting efforts, and programs to improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness; and that the roles performed by the legislative auditor and the state auditor are valued.

It is the intent of the legislature that public confidence in government at all levels is essential and must be promoted by all possible means, that the state's stewardship over public funds is a fundamental responsibility, and that this chapter is designed to help strengthen state management of public resources and the systems that provide citizens the information they need to assess accountability and to make informed decisions.

The purposes of this chapter are to:

(1) Establish a permanent means of bringing citizens, public employees, policymakers, executives, businesses, labor organizations, and management experts together for the continuous enhancement of state government and agency performance and accountability and to make our Washington state government and its agencies the most effective and efficient in the nation;

(2) Assess the quality and integration of state agency strategic and quality plans, performance measurement, and performance assessment in planning, budgeting, and managing the state's resources;

(3) Evaluate whether state government and its agencies make strategic and consistent efforts to engage citizens in dialogue, planning, and determining accountability for programs and services;

(4) Determine whether citizens have the information they need to assess accountability and adequate opportunities to participate in their government;

(5) Assess the success of state agencies implementing and using new technologies to improve services, facilitate citizen access, and measure and enhance the satisfaction of state agency customers;

(6) Evaluate the effectiveness of state agencies publicizing performance results and successes; and

(7) Use independent and comprehensive reviews to affirm the effectiveness and efficiency of state government agency management and use of public resources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The citizens' alliance for government accountability is established as a panel composed of nineteen members as follows: (1) The governor or the governor's designee who chairs the panel; (2) the state auditor or the state auditor's designee; (3) two members of the house of representatives, one from each caucus, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; (4) two members of the senate, one from each of the major political caucuses, appointed by the president of the senate; (5) a private sector, for-profit, corporate chief executive officer appointed by the governor; and (6) the following additional citizen members who are appointed by the joint action of the governor, state auditor, and the corporate chief executive officer who was appointed by the governor to reflect the state's economic, social, ethnic, and political diversity: (a) Two additional private sector, for-profit, corporate chief executive officers; (b) a private sector, nonprofit organization chief executive; (c) two state employees; (d) a representative of a labor organization; (e) a management expert; (f) a manager or administrator from county or city government; and (g) four general citizens. The appointed members shall have management and organizational experience and be selected based on letters of interest that are solicited state-wide.

Administrative costs and staff support for the alliance shall be provided by the office of financial management, with the full cooperation and participation by personnel loaned by other executive agencies and legislative agencies. Volunteers shall be sought to participate. The alliance may create subcommittees and advisory panels to assist in its deliberations and may contract for specialized expertise.

The alliance may solicit charitable gifts, grants, and donations that are placed into the citizens' alliance for government accountability account and used to offset general fund moneys appropriated for such purposes.

State employees and officials who serve on the alliance shall serve without additional compensation but shall receive normal reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of duties of the alliance under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, or other authority, as if engaged in their normal duties. All other members of the alliance shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of duties of the alliance in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The alliance shall make reports and recommendations to increase and improve state government efficiency, effectiveness, organization, operations, and accountability and to achieve costs savings. By December 31, 2000, the alliance shall present the legislature and governor with a strategic work plan to accomplish its purposes and at least three reports making recommendations. By August 15, 2001, and each August 15th thereafter, the alliance shall submit more detailed reports and recommendations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The citizens' alliance for government accountability account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Expenditures from the account may only be expended to finance the activities of the alliance and all expenditures must be authorized by the director of the office of financial management or the director's designee. Moneys in the account are not subject to appropriation and are not subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The alliance shall convene summit conferences as needed throughout the state and shall actively solicit participation by state employees, management experts, and the general citizenry. The alliance shall benchmark the best practices of government at all levels in organizing, managing, and conducting the annual, independent reviews, and shall consider and use the work performed by the legislative auditor, state auditor, and executive branch staff.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act expire December 31, 2003.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 6 and 9 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The sum of two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2001, from the state general fund to the citizens' alliance for government accountability account for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.