HB334

Report Title:

Government Org. & Eff. Comm.

Description:

Proposes a constitutional amendment to require the convening of a government organization and efficiency commission every ten years to review state government operations and make recommendations to enable state government to conduct its operations in a more cost-effective manner.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	334
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EFFICIENCY.

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

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to amend the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to require the convening of a commission on government organization and efficiency following the ratification of the constitutional amendment and every tenth year thereafter. This commission will conduct a comprehensive review of state government operations and will make recommendations for administrative and legislative action necessary to make current and future state government operations cost-effective and efficient. This Act will ensure that a permanent mechanism is in place to provide for reviews to be conducted on a regular and continuing basis.

SECTION 2. The Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended by adding a new section to Article XVI to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EFFICIENCY

Section . There is created a commission on government organization and efficiency, hereinafter referred to as "the commission", which shall be constituted within days following ratification of this section and every tenth year thereafter. The commission shall be composed of nine members, of whom two shall be appointed by the president of the senate, two by the speaker of the house of representatives, and four by the governor. The ninth member shall be selected by the eight appointed members and shall serve as the chairperson of the commission. In selecting commission members, the appointing authorities shall ensure that there is representation from business, public employee unions, the three branches of state government, the academic community, and the general public. Any vacancy in the commission shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

The commission shall act by majority vote of its membership and shall establish its own procedures, except as may be provided by law. The commission shall operate as a cooperative public-private venture, with the governor and the legislature providing necessary resources to carry out its purpose, including the provision of support staff, meeting space, equipment, supplies, and expertise.

Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.

The duties of the commission shall be to:

(1) Delineate all state powers, functions, and responsibilities and how state government has been organized to implement them;

(2) Assess whether the current mission and goals of government are appropriate to the times and capable of supporting self-reexamination or reinvention;

(3) Identify particular programs or tasks that are unnecessary, duplicative, or inefficiently operated;

(4) Evaluate the current methods of operation to determine whether or not agencies are effectively utilizing staff positions and employing cost-efficient technology;

(5) Recommend elimination of nonessential programs and services and tasks involving duplication of effort or overlapping services;

(6) Recommend consolidation of services, activities, and functions to streamline operations; and

(7) Formulate and delineate strategies and methods that will enable state government to conduct regular performance evaluations for the purpose of continually improving or reinventing government operations for optimal efficiency and productivity.

The commission may hold hearings and make investigations. For these purposes, the commission shall have such powers as may be provided by law with respect to issuance of subpoenas and compelling the attendance of witnesses to secure information necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Subpoenas shall be signed by the chairperson of the commission and may be served by any person designated by the chairperson. Any member of the commission may administer oaths or affirmations to any person called before it. Any person subpoenaed to appear before the commission shall be entitled to receive fees and travel expenses as are allowed witnesses in civil actions in the circuit courts of the State.

The commission shall have power to examine all government records and may secure directly from any state agency, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics which are necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this section. Each department shall make its records available and shall furnish information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the commission, upon written request of the chairperson.

The legislature shall appropriate funds to enable the commission to carry out its duties."

SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall there be established a commission on government organization and efficiency to meet every ten years to review state government operations and make recommendations to ensure cost-effectiveness and efficiency?"

SECTION 4. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with Article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________