Efficiency First Commission Act
The Efficiency First Commission Act establishes an independent, temporary commission to review state government operations, reduce inefficiencies, streamline regulations, and optimize expenditures. The commission will evaluate government functions, recommend cost-saving measures, and propose reforms to enhance service delivery and economic growth.
Key Provisions
Creation of the Commission: Establishes the Efficiency First Commission (EFC) with appointed experts from government, private sector, nonprofits, and academia.
Government Review: Conducts a zero-based budgeting process to assess state agencies, eliminate redundancies, and identify privatization opportunities.
Regulatory Reform: Reviews and recommends the repeal or streamlining of outdated or burdensome regulations.
Revenue Optimization: Identifies state assets that could be sold or leased to generate revenue.
Public Engagement: Holds hearings and forums to gather input from citizens and businesses on inefficiencies and improvements.
Transparency and Accountability: Ensures open meetings, publishes interim updates, and makes the final report publicly available.
Model Language
Section 1. Short Title: This Act shall be known as the “Efficiency First Commission Act.”
Section 2. Purpose: The purpose of this Act is to establish an independent commission tasked with reviewing state government operations, reducing expenditures, eliminating inefficiencies, streamlining regulations, and enhancing public service delivery to better serve taxpayers and promote economic growth.
Section 3. Establishment of the Efficiency First Commission (EFC)
(a) Creation of the Commission: The Efficiency First Commission is hereby established as an independent, temporary body to review and propose improvements to the structure and operations of state government.
(b) Membership:
The Commission shall consist of [X] members, appointed as follows:
members appointed by the Governor.
members appointed by the Speaker of the House.
members appointed by the President of the Senate.
public members representing the private sector, nonprofit sector, and academia.
The chairperson shall be appointed by the Governor.
(c) Qualifications: Members shall have expertise in fields such as public administration, business management, regulatory policy, or economic development.
Section 4. Duties and Responsibilities
(a) Operational Review:
The Commission shall:
Conduct a zero-based budgeting process to evaluate all state agencies, programs, and services.
Identify redundancies, underperforming programs, and opportunities for consolidation or elimination.
(b) Privatization Recommendations: Evaluate the feasibility of privatizing public services, including education, transportation, and healthcare, and recommend programs or functions suitable for private-sector management.
(c) Regulatory Reform:
Review all state regulations to identify those that are outdated, duplicative, or overly burdensome.
Propose a comprehensive plan to streamline or repeal unnecessary regulations, prioritizing those that hinder economic growth.
(d) Revenue Optimization: Identify state-owned assets, such as real estate, infrastructure, or utilities, that can be sold or leased to generate long-term revenue.
(e) Citizen and Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct public hearings and forums to gather input from citizens, businesses, and community organizations on inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
(f) Final Report:
Submit a comprehensive report to the Governor and legislature no later than [date], including specific recommendations and proposed legislative packages.
The report shall outline potential cost savings, projected impacts, and a timeline for implementation.
Section 5. Implementation of Recommendations
(a) Legislative Action: Recommendations requiring legislative approval shall be submitted as a package to the legislature for consideration.
(b) Executive Action: The Governor shall have the authority to implement recommendations that do not require legislative approval.
Section 6. Sunset Clause: The Commission shall dissolve upon submission of its final report and completion of its duties, no later than [date].
Section 7. Transparency and Accountability
(a) All Commission meetings shall comply with the state’s open meetings law.
(b) The Commission shall publish interim updates on its findings and recommendations on a public website.
(c) The final report shall be made publicly available and include detailed analyses of proposed savings and efficiencies.
Section 8. Funding
(a) The Commission shall be funded through appropriations from the general fund, not exceeding [$X million].
(b) The Commission may seek grants or contributions from private entities, provided such funds do not create conflicts of interest.
Section 9. Severability: If any provision of this Act is found to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions shall not be affected.
Section 10. Effective Date: This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.