S-2399               _______________________________________________

                                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8411

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Hayner, Bailey, Kiskaddon, Barr, Saling, Lee, Nelson, Zimmerman, von Reichbauer, Deccio, Metcalf, Patterson, McCaslin, Anderson, Seller, Johnson and Craswell

Read first time 3/11/87 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

WHEREAS, It is in the interest of the citizens of the State of Washington to have a well organized government dedicated to providing cost-effective services that respond to the needs of the people residing in the state; and

          WHEREAS, An assessment of how to best promote economy, efficiency, and improved service in the transaction of the public business is necessary; and

          WHEREAS, the Governor, the Legislature, and the citizens of the state of Washington collectively have an interest in ensuring that government is organized in an efficient, responsive, and cost-effective manner;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Washington Commission on Management and Efficiency be established to assist the Governor and the Legislature in identifying ways to achieve economy, efficiency, and improved service delivery by state government; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington Commission on Management and Efficiency shall be constituted as follows:

          (1) Each leader from each caucus in the Senate and the House of Representatives shall appoint one of its members to serve on the Commission;

          (2) The President of the Washington Business Roundtable is requested to appoint two members from the Washington Business Roundtable board to serve;

          (3) The Governor is requested to appoint three members:  (a) Two citizen members who reflect the size and scope of business interests throughout the state of Washington and who have demonstrated expertise in business management and productivity, and (b) one state employee.

          The Commission shall elect, from among its membership, a chairperson; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the legislative evaluation and accountability program shall provide staff support to the Commission; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That legislative members receive an allowance in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.  Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Commission shall be constituted no later than July 31, 1987, and shall convene its first meeting no later than September 1, 1987; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That in accordance with Legislative Joint Rule 26, the Commission may:

          (1) Meet whenever deemed necessary at an appropriate location to hold hearings as a whole body or subcommittee;

          (2) Subpoena, administer oaths, and issue commissions for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW;

          (3) Cooperate with and secure cooperation from every department of state government; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

          (1) To review growth and spending trends in state government personnel, departments, divisions and services over the last fifteen years;

          (2) To identify state programs, necessary for the health, safety, welfare, and economic stability of the state and its citizenry;

          (3) To identify state programs that could be restructured or eliminated without doing harm to the health, safety, welfare, and economic stability of the state and its citizenry;

          (4) To provide the legislature with recommendations for limiting the growth in state expenditures without weakening vital state programs, including, but not limited to:

          (a) Eliminating duplication and the overlapping of services and rules;

          (b) Restructuring or abolishing those departments, divisions, or services that are not essential for the promotion of the health, safety, welfare, and economic stability of the state and its citizenry; and

          (5) To recommend methods to ensure long-range planning to better manage the resources of the state; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Commission shall make a preliminary report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than June 1, 1988; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That final recommendations of the Commission shall be reported to the Governor and the Legislature no later than January 1, 1989; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington Commission on Management and Efficiency shall cease to exist on February 1, 1989.