Governor Bentley Signs Measures to Increase Efficiency in State Government
By: Blake Deshazo
Updated: March 22, 2013
MONTGOMERY
- Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday signed a series of measures aimed
at increasing efficiency across government agencies.
"Our
goal since taking office has been to make government more efficient
while saving taxpayer dollars," Governor Bentley said. "We are working
closely with members of the Alabama Legislature
to accomplish this goal. The measures I am signing today will all help
us achieve greater efficiency."
"I
applaud this Legislature for making right-sizing government a priority,"
Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey said. "Continuing economic challenges
have taught us to tighten our belts and look
for efficiencies in government where possible. I am confident these
measures will result in saving the state millions of dollars and will
help serve the people of Alabama more efficiently and effectively."
"While
President Obama and the federal government continue to bloat and
expand, Alabama is taking the necessary steps to ensure that our state
is operating in the most efficient manner possible,"
said Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn). "Republicans are
the party of smaller government, and we owe it to our state's taxpayers
to streamline our efforts to the best of our ability. The bills signed
by Governor Bentley today will make good on
our commitment to the people of Alabama."
State Law Enforcement - Senate Bill 108:
This
legislation signed by the Governor will better coordinate state-level
law enforcement. The result will be better public safety for the people
of Alabama.
Senate
Bill 108 accomplishes this by streamlining the administrative-level
functions of state law enforcement agencies. Currently, more than 20
state agencies and departments provide law enforcement
services. By improving coordination, this bill will help minimize
redundancies and allow more resources to be focused on the actual law
enforcement services that are delivered to the public.
"We
appreciate the service and dedication of all of our state law
enforcement officers," Governor Bentley said. "As we improve
coordination between their departments, we'll be able to better
protect our citizens while also saving taxpayers money."
"When
it comes to cutting costs and working toward a more efficient
government, no one has been more committed to this effort than Governor
Bentley and my colleagues in the Legislature," said
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), who sponsored this
legislation. "After more than two years of work involving countless
hours from representatives from the law enforcement community, we have a
model that will result in better, more cost-effective
services to the people of Alabama."
"As a
retired state trooper, oftentimes my colleagues and I would see ways
that our agency and partnering agencies could be run more efficiently
and effectively," said the bill's House Sponsor,
Representative Mike Ball (R-Madison). "After much study and thorough
investigation, this legislation will finally streamline Alabama's law
enforcement efforts while conserving taxpayer dollars and maximizing
efficiency."
Senate
Bill 108 establishes the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and a
Secretary of Law Enforcement to oversee state-level law enforcement
functions. Governor Bentley will appoint the
Secretary in the coming months.
Information Technology - Senate Bill 117:
Governor Bentley signed this legislation to streamline the state's information technology.
Currently,
there is little coordination among state-level, non-education agencies
in many areas involving I.T. The result is that state agencies often
have I.T. systems that are not compatible
with each other, and simple cost-saving measures such as buying in bulk
across state agencies are not realized.
This
bill addresses those problems by establishing a Secretary of
Information Technology who will identify ways to save money and improve
coordination within the state's I.T. networks. The
Secretary will develop and implement a responsible plan to coordinate
the purchasing, management and use of I.T. across state agencies.
"Our
Secretary of Information Technology will help us organize I.T. to make
it more efficient, to save taxpayer dollars and to make it more secure,"
Governor Bentley said. "By improving coordination,
we can make sure we're spending money wisely and saving money where we
can."
The
Secretary of Information Technology will be appointed by Governor
Bentley in the near future. A legislative oversight committee will
review the operations and performance of the Secretary.
"As
state operations become more and more dependent upon technology, it's
imperative that we have someone to hold accountable for making sure
we're operating in the most efficient and responsible
manner," said Senator Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City), who sponsored the
legislation. "The signing of this bill marks a positive step toward
significant cost savings for state I.T. functions, and I'm proud to have
been a part of this effort."
"As a
businessman, I know that in order to keep the doors open, it's
important to maximize your efficiencies and results while minimizing
your overhead," said Representative Ken Johnson (R-Moulton),
House Sponsor of the legislation. "It is imperative to have someone to
hold accountable for making sure I.T. is managed in the most efficient
way possible, particularly at a time when we are becoming increasingly
dependent on technology to operate."
Fleet Management:
Also
Thursday, Governor Bentley signed an executive order that will increase
efficiency in the management and maintenance of state-owned vehicles.
The
executive order establishes an Office of Fleet Management and a Fleet
Manager within the Alabama Department of Transportation. The Fleet
Manager will work with state agencies to assess
the state's current fleet of vehicles. The Fleet Manager will then
develop a uniform, statewide program to ensure the most efficient
methods of managing those vehicles.
The
program will focus on issues such as fuel efficiency and cost-effective
maintenance. The goal is to have the lowest possible cost per mile
driven.
"The
Department of Transportation has done an excellent job in fleet
management, and we are choosing ALDOT to oversee management of the
entire state's fleet program," Governor Bentley said.
"The Fleet Manager will work closely with all agencies to make this
transition as efficient and seamless as possible."
Upcoming legislation from Senator Cam Ward and Representative Greg Wren will also help support more efficient fleet management.
"This
efficiency reform to our state fleet policies will help bring Alabama's
vehicle management into the 21st century," Senator Ward (R-Alabaster)
said. "I've worked on these issues since
I was first elected, and I'm proud of our Governor for his
forward-thinking leadership. This not only cuts down on energy use, it
will also save the state millions of tax dollars and allow us to upgrade
public safety vehicles at the same time. This reform
will be an enormous savings for state government, which is a win-win for
everyone."
"I'd
like to commend Governor Bentley for working with the Legislature to
create a state fleet management program within the Department of
Transportation," Representative Wren (R-Montgomery)
said. "As an executive agency, ALDOT will have the responsibility to
develop and manage thousands of taxpayer-owned vehicles in order to
reduce transportation costs, improve operating efficiencies and provide a
lower-cost vehicle replacement program during
the years ahead. This Executive Order to create a Fleet Manager within
ALDOT is consistent with Governor Bentley's efforts to save taxpayer
dollars. I applaud the Governor and ALDOT Director John Cooper for
their ongoing working relationship with the Legislature."
