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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/25/2024 04:37 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20190&cosponId=30641
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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: November 8, 2019 11:16 AM
From: Senator Doug Mastriano
To: All Senate members
Subject: Streamlining Government Operations
 
I am constantly hearing frustration by constituents regarding the inordinate size of our state government, and the bloated number of state agencies and bureaucracies that we have in the Commonwealth.

As a result of those concerns, I am introducing the following pieces of legislation, and I invite you to join me as a co-sponsor:

Merger of the Budget Office, Department of General Services, Office of Administration and the Governor's Office of Policy & Planning; and

Merger of the Department of Labor & Industry with functions from the Department of Community & Economic Development and the Department of State.

It is my hope that this consolidation of state bureaucracies will enhance the delivery of government services to state residents, reduce taxpayer costs and streamline redundant programs.

If you have any questions regarding these proposals, please do not hesitate to contact Scot Pitzer in my office at 717-787-4651.


Document #1

Introduced as SB1130

Description: Merger of the Budget Office, Department of General Services, Office of Administration and the Governor’s Office of Policy & Planning.

This legislation would merge the Budget Office, the Department of General Services, the Office of Administration and the Governor’s Office of Policy and Planning into one agency.

The new agency, the “Office of Management and Budget,” would supervise all aspects of the Commonwealth’s governance including budget preparation, and oversee state expenditures along with handling all procurement, human resources and IT.

This model is used by the federal government and by 29 states to improve the coordination of management and government.

In order to fulfill its important role and the duties of the merged agencies, the new Office of Management and Budget will include the following bureaus:

▪ Bureau of Budget & Financial Management;
▪ Bureau of Planning and Policy;
▪ Bureau of State Facilities & Maintenance;
▪ Bureau of Procurement;
▪ Bureau of Human Resources;
▪ Bureau of Information Technology; and
▪ Governor’s office of Transformation, Innovation, Management & Efficiency.

These bureaus will be overseen by the Director of the Office of Management & Budget, who is required to perform the duties previously given to the Secretary of the Budget, Secretary of General Services and the Secretary of Administration.

I am partnering with State Rep. Seth Grove in introducing this legislation. It is modeled after HB52, which is currently assigned to the House State Government Committee.
 

Document #2

Introduced as SB1131

Description: Merger of the Department of Labor & Industry with functions from the Department of Community & Economic Development and the Department of State.

Under current law, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has decentralized its job creation, economic development and business programs throughout several different state agencies.

To improve economic development and strengthen job creation, legislation that I am introducing will merge economic development, business and workforce policy under a single agency. Overall, this concept allows state government to coordinate this programs, while eliminating redundancies, to meet industry needs and match more workers with employment.

This proposal merges the existing Department of Labor & Industry with functions from the Department of Community & Economic Development and the Department of State to create the new “Department of Business, Tourism & Workforce Development." The new department would be organized as follows:

▪ Bureau of Trust Fund Management;
▪ Bureau of Safety, Labor & Management Relations;
▪ Office of Vocational Rehabilitation;
▪ Bureau of Workforce Development & Business Finance;
▪ Bureau of Marketing & Tourism;
▪ Bureau of Licensing (Occupational Licensing and Business/Non-Profit Licensing); and
▪ Office of Business Consultants.

This legislation will ensure that economic development programs are under one department, to improve coordination and foster greater private-sector job growth. It will provide a uniform department which will allow Pennsylvania to better compete in a global economy. This proposed merger also refocuses current agencies into the singular mission of private sector job growth and sends the message that Pennsylvania is open for business.

Also, this proposal would establish the new department as a one-stop shop for job creators by forming the Office of Business Consultants, which is designed to reduce the burden of state requirements by assisting job creators with compliance and economic development.

I am partnering with State Rep. Frank Ryan in introducing this legislation. It is modeled after HB53, which is currently assigned to the House State Government Committee.