Bill > S1675

This bill establishes a special commission, to be known as the Government Efficiencies Commission, to study and recommend ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state agencies, programs, and services in Massachusetts. The commission will be composed of legislative leaders, including the chairs of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (who will co-chair the commission), chairs of Post Audit and Oversight committees, minority leaders, the State Auditor, the Assistant Secretary of Commonwealth Performance, Accountability and Transparency, the State Treasurer, and two appointees of the Governor. Its primary goals are to identify and eliminate functional overlaps and redundancies among state agencies, reduce costs to the Commonwealth, and enhance the quality and accessibility of public services, potentially through merging or consolidating agencies and programs. The commission is also tasked with identifying opportunities to maximize revenues, such as federal grants, and will have the authority to hold hearings, gather information from state agencies, and review best practices from other states. The commission must be formed within 60 days of the bill's enactment and is required to submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the General Court by January 2, 2016.