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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2413                      PRINTER'S NO. 2629

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE RESOLUTION

No. 178 Session of 1990


        INTRODUCED BY BAKER, CORMAN, SALVATORE, HELFRICK, AFFLERBACH,
           WENGER, LEMMOND AND SHAFFER, JUNE 29, 1990

        AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 20, 1990

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study ways in  <--
     2     which the Commonwealth can better provide government services
     3     at minimal public cost by utilizing, where appropriate,
     4     private enterprise.
     5  DIRECTING THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION TO STUDY WAYS IN  <--
     6     WHICH THE COMMONWEALTH CAN ENHANCE SERVICE EFFICIENCY AT
     7     MINIMAL ECONOMIC PUBLIC COST.

     8     WHEREAS, It is the function of government to establish         <--
     9  policies and manage programs established by or pursuant to law;
    10  and
    11     WHEREAS, It is the function of the private enterprise system,
    12  which is the primary source of economic strength, to provide
    13  goods and services needed in that endeavor; and
    14     WHEREAS, Optimum efficiency, economy and productivity can
    15  often be achieved if government relies on competitive
    16  procurements from private enterprise for its needs, goods and
    17  services; and
    18     WHEREAS, In a democratic, free enterprise system, the
    19  government should work to insure that quality standards are met
    20  at the least possible cost to taxpayers; therefore be it

     1     RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission appoint
     2  a task force to conduct a thorough study of ways in which the
     3  Commonwealth can provide government services at minimal public
     4  cost by utilizing, where appropriate, private enterprise; and be
     5  it further
     6     RESOLVED, That the task force may appoint an advisory
     7  committee to:
     8         (1)  review and identify governmental functions which
     9     could better be performed by private enterprise;
    10         (2)  review existing privatization efforts on the
    11     Federal, State and local levels;
    12         (3)  establish standards of evaluation of existing
    13     governmental services by applying cost-benefit analysis and
    14     taking into account quality, safety and other performance
    15     standards;
    16         (4)  review current bidding and procurement regulations
    17     to determine their efficiency;
    18         (5)  review the possibility of integrating public and
    19     private services; and
    20         (6)  in particular, examine service areas, including, but
    21     not limited to, the following:
    22             (i)  transportation, including operation,
    23         construction, design of highways and transportation-
    24         related projects;
    25             (ii)  municipal services;
    26             (iii)  hazardous waste and environmental services;
    27             (iv)  human services, including mental health and
    28         mental retardation services;
    29             (v)  hospital operation;
    30             (vi)  housing and redevelopment programs;
    19900S0178R2629                  - 2 -

     1             (vii)  education and training services; and
     2             (viii)  administrative services, including data
     3         processing and records management; and be it further
     4     RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
     5  the findings of its task force, together with recommendations
     6  for appropriate legislation, to the General Assembly as soon as
     7  possible.
     8     WHEREAS, IT IS THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH         <--
     9  POLICIES AND MANAGE PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED BY OR PURSUANT TO LAW
    10  THROUGH THE BEST MANAGEMENT OPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES; AND
    11     WHEREAS, OPTIMUM EFFICIENCY, ECONOMY AND PRODUCTIVITY CAN BE
    12  BEST ACHIEVED IF GOVERNMENT RELIES ON EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT
    13  TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENTS; AND
    14     WHEREAS, GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK TO INSURE THAT EFFICIENCY AND
    15  QUALITY STANDARDS ARE MET AT THE LEAST POSSIBLE COST TO
    16  TAXPAYERS; THEREFORE BE IT
    17     RESOLVED, THAT THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION APPOINT
    18  A TASK FORCE TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH STUDY OF WAYS IN WHICH THE
    19  COMMONWEALTH CAN ENHANCE SERVICE EFFICIENCY AT MINIMAL PUBLIC
    20  COST; AND BE IT FURTHER
    21     RESOLVED, THAT THE TASK FORCE MAY APPOINT AN ADVISORY
    22  COMMITTEE TO:
    23         (1)  REVIEW AND IDENTIFY GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS WHERE
    24     SERVICE EFFICIENCY MAY BE IMPROVED;
    25         (2)  REVIEW EXISTING COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING EFFORTS ON
    26     THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS;
    27         (3)  ESTABLISH STANDARDS OF EVALUATION OF EXISTING
    28     GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES BY APPLYING COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND
    29     TAKING INTO ACCOUNT QUALITY, SAFETY AND OTHER PERFORMANCE AND
    30     EFFICIENCY MEASURES;
    19900S0178R2629                  - 3 -

     1         (4)  ASSESS THE EFFICIENCY OF CURRENT PROCUREMENT AND
     2     BIDDING REGULATIONS;
     3         (5)  EXAMINE SERVICE AREAS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
     4     TO, THE FOLLOWING:
     5             (I)  ALL ASPECTS OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES;
     6             (II)  MUNICIPAL SERVICES;
     7             (III)  HAZARDOUS WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES;
     8             (IV)  HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT;
     9             (V)  HOSPITAL OPERATION;
    10             (VI)  EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES; AND
    11             (VII)  ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES; AND
    12         (6)  PREPARE A HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO
    13     STREAMLINE PUBLIC SERVICES AND MORE EFFICIENTLY PERFORM
    14     GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS WHICH SHALL INDICATE WHICH
    15     GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES ACHIEVED PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY; AND BE
    16     IT FURTHER
    17     RESOLVED, THAT THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION REPORT
    18  THE FINDINGS OF ITS TASK FORCE, TOGETHER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS
    19  FOR APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION, TO THE SENATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.








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