Report Title:

Controlling Government Waste

Description:

Creates a nonpartisan commission to identify and eliminate government waste and inefficiency. Anticipated savings to be appropriated to the state library system. Requires a report submitted to the legislature for next session.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2369

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to government waste.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that state government is continually wasteful in its practices. For example, the governor's family spends approximately $40,000 for food per year, and there is duplication of activities between the city and county of Honolulu and the State for services such as road maintenance, parks, and land use planning. During fiscal crises, state government should operate efficiently with a "no frills" view toward spending.

Thus, the purpose of this Act is to create a nonpartisan commission to identify and eliminate government waste and inefficiency. The anticipated savings are to be directed to the state library system.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the department of accounting and general services, an interagency, nonpartisan, government waste commission. Specifically, the commission shall:

(1) Review all pertinent statutes, agency rules, policies, procedures, and practices to identify those that are inefficient or are duplicative of services between state or county agencies or departments;

(2) Based on the review required in paragraph (1), enumerate and report to the governor and legislature any statutes, rules, policies, procedures, and practices identified as needing suspension to allow state or county agencies or departments to restructure and reallocate resources for increased efficiency; and

(3) Submit an annual report to the 2002 and 2003 regular sessions of the legislature regarding the progress of the commission and any legislative actions necessary to support the reorganization, reallocation, and effective use of resources of any state or county department or agency.

(b) The commission shall be composed of:

(1) The governor or the governor's designee;

(2) The director of accounting and general services or the director's designee;

(3) The director of budget and finance or the director's designee;

(4) The director of human resources development or the director's designee;

(5) The auditor or the auditor's designee; and

(6) The managing directors or directors' designees of each county.

(c) The chair of the commission shall be the director of the department of accounting and general services. The commission shall convene on a regular basis, and shall focus its initial efforts on identifying statutes, agency rules, policies, procedures, and practices that are inefficient or duplicative. The commission shall develop a list of the statutes, rules, policies, procedures, and practices recommended for suspension, alteration, or reallocation by the appropriate state or county agency or department.

(d) The legislature shall appropriate any monetary savings realized by the recommended suspensions, alterations, or reallocations to the state library system for expenditure.

SECTION 3. The commission shall submit, in a timely fashion, a status report to the governor and the legislature, which shall include a summary of its activities regarding the review of agency functions and identification of rules, policies, procedures, and practices recommended for suspension, alteration, or reallocation. The commission shall submit a final report to the legislature that shall include a summary of the activities undertaken by the appropriate state or county agencies or departments to provide for greater efficiency no later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2003.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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