2014 -- H 7486

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, Giarrusso, Costa, Chippendale, and Newberry

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 155

RHODE ISLAND PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

     42-155-1. Legislative findings. -- For decades, private industry has been utilizing

continuous improvement tools in order to make their operations more efficient and effective.

These improvement tools have been a critical and important component for successfully

competing in the global economy. Unfortunately, the concept of continuous improvement has

largely been absent from governmental operations, however, during the past few years,

governors, and state departments and agencies across the country have begun implementing

improvement tools in the workforce. As a result, inefficient governmental operating systems have

been streamlined, workforce effectiveness has been enhanced and improved customer service has

been provided to constituents.

     Continuous improvement must become part of the governmental culture, and the program

established by this chapter is an attempt to encourage state leaders, and agency and departmental

leaders to learn and utilize tools of process development and improvement in order to improve

and enhance governmental services for the residents of Rhode Island.

     42-155-2. Rhode Island Performance Excellence Program. -- (a) There shall be

established a Rhode Island Performance Excellence Program ("Program") to be administered and

funded by the governor's workforce board. The goal of the Program is to foster a culture of

excellence by encouraging participation in, and rewarding, successful workforce improvement

projects.

     (b) A steering committee shall be established in connection with the program provided

from the Rhode Island chapter of the American Society for Quality ("ASQ"), in order to establish

the parameters and guidelines for the Program.

     (c) The Program shall create, among other things, training guides, seminars and an annual

project award in connection with workforce effectiveness and efficiency in the government

workplace. All projects shall be judged using the guidelines for public service process

certification as published by the ASQ, and shall provide for monetary awards as established by

the ASQ.

     (d) The governor's workforce board shall fund the Program on an annual basis in the

minimum annual amount of forty thousand dollars ($40,000).

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

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     This act would create the Rhode Island Performance Excellence Program in order to

foster a culture to continuously improve the efficiencies of the government workforce.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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