COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
House Bill 4542
Sponsor: Rep. Philip LaJoy
Committee: Oversight and Investigations
Complete to 9-18-07
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4542 AS INTRODUCED 3-29-07
The bill would amend the Legislative Council Act to provide for the creation of a nine-member Commission on Government Efficiency. The commission would be created within the Legislative Council. The bill would do the following.
Commission Duties. No later than June 1, 2008, the commission would need to 1) review and investigate ways to make state government more efficient; 2) review, investigate, and collect information necessary to evaluate all functions and services provided by each state agency, including human resource duties and responsibilities, payroll services, accounting and financial services, purchasing programs, printing services, mail services, maintenance services, and janitorial or cleaning services; 3) determine the complete cost of each function or service performed by a state agency; 4) determine the number "FTEs" (full-time employees); 5) determine how each function or service is funded in each state agency; and 6) determine the total and complete cost of all functions and services combined.
No later than June 1, 2009, the commission would have to make specific determinations on the previously enumerated items and report the determinations to each house of the Legislature.
Commission Members and Terms. The commission would consist of the following nine members: one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one member by the Minority Leader of the House; one member appointed by the Senate Majority Leader and one by the Senate Minority Leader; the heads of the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies; and three members of the public jointly selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader, one with experience in accounting, one with experience in human resources, and one with experience with finance. The initial members would have to be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of the bill. Members would serve a term of three years. Vacancies would be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The person making the appointment could remove a member for good cause.
Commission Meetings. The first meeting of the commission would be called by the Speaker of the House. At that meeting the commission would elect a chairperson and other officers considered necessary and appropriate. After the first meeting the commission would be required to meet at least monthly, or more frequently at the call of the chair or if requested by three or more members.
The commission would be subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Acts. For the purpose of conducting business, a majority of the members present and serving would constitute a forum.
Compensation. Members of the commission would serve without compensation, but members could be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
Commission Authority. In connection with its duties, the commission could issue subpoenas, direct the service of the subpoena by any police officer, and compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses; administer oaths and examine any person as necessary; and compel the production of books, accounts, papers, documents, and records. Orders and subpoenas issued by the commission could be enforced upon application to any circuit court of law.
The provisions creating the commission would be repealed effective September 30, 2010.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill's fiscal impact is indeterminate.
Fiscal Analyst: Al Valenzio
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.