SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1780        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1605

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Richard T. Moore

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to promote value and efficiency in the delivery of state services.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1780        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1605

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act to promote value and efficiency in the delivery of state services.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

                SECTION 1. Section 31A of chapter 7 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out said section, and inserting in place thereof, the following new section:

                Section 31A.  There shall be within the executive office for administration and finance a value and efficiency board to administer a process for receiving suggestions from state employees and retirees for the improvement of state programs and services to provide greater value and efficiency in the delivery of said programs and services.

Said board shall advertise, solicit, receive, and review suggestions made by officers and employees of the commonwealth relative to improving existing governmental procedures, services and programs, initiating new procedures, services and program to create value and efficiency in the delivery of state services, increasing the efficiency of the several state departments, boards, commissions, or institutions operating under any state department, division, board or commission, reducing the cost of state government, eliminating waste in state government, or improving the service rendered to the public by any department, division, board, commission or institution.  The value and efficiency board shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be required to implement the provisions of this section, provided however, that, to the extent possible, suggestions shall be submitted electronically in a format designed to identify 1) the idea being proposed, 2) the design of the proposal, 3) the rationale for stakeholders to support said proposal, 4) a proposed plan of implementation, and 5) a plan for evaluation of results.  The board shall select the five proposals, that in their opinion, are deemed to have the greatest impact on improving the value and efficiency of state services, and shall establish an online voting method to permit the general public to select the winner from among the five proposals.  The author or authors of the winning proposal shall be eligible for an award to be determined by the board.

The board shall consist of the commissioner of administration or his designee, the comptroller or his designee, the budget director or his designee, one member, appointed by the president of the Massachusetts taxpayers foundation, one member appointed by the director of the Beacon Hill Institute, one member appointed by the director of the Pioneer Institute, one member appointed by the director of the McCormack Institute of the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and one member appointed by the executive director of MassExcellence.

                There shall be established a public service value and efficiency fund.  Said fund, which shall be used for providing the award for the winning proposal nominated by the board and selected by the public voting in the online ballot.  Said fund may consist of such funds as may be appropriated, or by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses donated in accordance with procedures approved by the Massachusetts state ethics commission.