2014 -- H 7816

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LC004956

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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 - RHODE ISLAND MUNICIPAL

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

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

     Date Introduced: March 04, 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 MUNICIPAL PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 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 municipal 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. -- Rhode Island

Municipal Performance Management Program. -- (a) There shall be established a Rhode

Island Municipal Performance Management Program ("Program") to be administered and funded

by the department of administration. The purpose of the Program is to advance the use of

techniques, tools, and processes of performance management with the goal of improving the

effective and efficient use of resources and the delivery of services.

     (b) A 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 department of administration shall fund eight (8) six (6) month scholarships to a

maximum amount of ninety-six thousand dollars ($96,000). Scholarship recipients shall be

chosen by lottery from interested municipalities. Scholarship winners who continue in the

program after the first six (6) months shall be subsidized for one-half (1/2) of the cost of the

program for a maximum amount of forty-eight thousand dollars ($48,000).

     (e) The department shall also fund a second scholarship year under the same terms as set

forth in subsection (d) of this section.

     (f) The department shall report the results and effectiveness of the program to the general

assembly within six (6) months after the end of the second scholarship year.

     (g) The scholarship recipients will be given the use of a consultant and materials. This

consultant will work collaboratively with the municipal staff on projects involving performance

management processes. Processes shall include data collection, data-driven analysis, decision-

making, use of statistical measurement and control, and best practices and continuous

improvement techniques.

     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 - RHODE ISLAND MUNICIPAL

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

***

     This act would establish the Rhode Island Municipal Performance Management Program

which would be funded by the department of administration with the goal of improving the

delivery of services in the government sector. The act would also require the funding of a

scholarship program to accomplish the goals set forth in the act.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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