Archive: Accountability

  • Federal Funds Commission Act January 15, 2014

    Federal Funds Commission Act Summary This bill creates the Federal Funds Commission to study and make recommendations on federal funding in a state’s budget, assess risks of a significant loss of federal funding, and contingency plans for continued services from the state in the event of a reduction of federal assistance. Model Policy {Title, Enacting Clause, etc.}   Section 1. This Act may be cited as the Federal Funds Commission Act. Section 2. {Definitions.}   (A) “Commission” means the {insert state} Federal Funds Commission. Section 3. {Commission Creation and Members.} (A) There is created an advisory commission known as the Federal […]

  • Business Ombudsman Act September 30, 2013

    Business Ombudsman Act   {Title, enacting clause, etc.}  Section 1. {Short Title} This act may be cited as the Business Ombudsman Act Section 2. {Definitions} For purposes of this section, the term— (a) “Ombudsman” means the Business Ombudsman designated under section 3. (b) “Agency” means any government department, organization, board, commission, council, bureau, administrative tribunal, facility, institution or other governmental entity of (name of state), Section 3. {Ombudsman Enforcement Powers} (1) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Governor shall appoint and the legislature confirm a Business Ombudsman, who shall report directly to […]

  • An Act Providing for the Detection and Prevention of Fraud, Waste, Abuse and Improper Payments in State Government September 30, 2013

    An Act Providing for the Detection and Prevention of Fraud, Waste, Abuse and Improper Payments in State Government Summary This Act would improve government efficiency and accountability by detecting and preventing fraud, waste, abuse and improper payments in state government. This Act would establish an Enterprise Fraud Program Office with the authority to develop and implement an automated fraud detection system across state agencies. Model Policy {Title, Enacting Clause, etc.} Section 1. {Legislative Findings} (A)  Fraud, waste, abuse and improper payments are pervasive, and often on the rise, in many government programs. (1)   According to The Centers for Medicare and […]

  • State Grant Transparency and Accountability Act August 5, 2013

    State Grant Transparency and Accountability Act   Summary The collection and reporting on the use of public grants is an important tool for properly stewarding tax dollars.  The purpose of this Act is to improve transparency and accountability in the state grant making process by creating a publically accessible web portal containing categorized expenditure information detailing the use of a state grant.  The bill would set compliance requirements for grant recipients and provide probation and suspension remedies for noncompliance. Model Policy   Section 1. {Purpose}   The State Department charged with overseeing State grants, within 12 months after the effective […]

  • Committee to Reduce Government Waste & Nonessential Expenditures August 5, 2013

    Committee to Reduce Government Waste & Nonessential Expenditures Summary As a way to pay for World War II without raising taxes, the Joint Committee on Reduction of Nonessential Federal Expenditures was created at the federal level in 1941. The committee was proposed by Sen. Harry F. Byrd (D., Va.) and worked like an anti-appropriations committee. During the postwar years, the committee saved the equivalent of $38 billion in today’s dollars. It was because of the committee that the Civilian Conservation Corps was eliminated and the Work Progress Administration was scaled back. The state of {insert state} believes that a similar […]

  • Resolution on Release Time for Union Business March 15, 2013

    Resolution on Release Time for Union Business Summary The Resolution on Release Time for Union Business opposes the practice of public sector union members receiving release time from their primary responsibilities to participate in union business. Model Resolution WHEREAS, many public agencies, including school districts, regularly provide release time for union leaders and negotiating team members to conduct union business; and WHEREAS, such time should be recorded in order to determine how much time an employee spends on union activity as opposed to performing his/her job duties; and WHEREAS, such union leaders are often senior level employees at the top of […]

  • The Election Accountability for Municipal Employee Union Representatives Act March 15, 2013

    The Election Accountability for Municipal Employee Union Representatives Act Summary This Act ensures that employees’ choice of representation is a priority by requiring that the state labor board regularly conduct an election to ensure that the representative of a collective bargaining unit that contains a general municipal employee accurately represents the choice of employees. Model Legislation {Title, enacting clause, etc.} Section 1. {Definitions} (A)  “The Commission” refers to the state labor board or any body that oversees labor relations in the state. Section 2. {Representation Elections} (A)  The Commission shall conduct an election every [three to five] years to certify […]

  • The Financial Accountability for Public Employee Unions Act March 15, 2013

    The Financial Accountability for Public Employee Unions Act Summary This Act increases transparency and accountability to taxpayers by requiring public employee unions to annually file an independent audit of all expenditures attributed to the costs of collective bargaining, contract administration and grievance adjustment. Model Legislation {Title, enacting clause, etc.} Section 1. {Definitions} For the purposes of this Act: (A)  “Exclusive bargaining representative” refers to an individual who serves as a representative of a labor organization. (B)  “Public employee” means any individual employed by any state or local government, government agency, government instrumentality, special district, joint powers authority, school board or […]

  • Resolution in Support of Reporting Requirements for Public Sector Unions March 15, 2013

    Resolution in Support of Reporting Requirements for Public Sector Unions Summary Currently, public sector unions are not required to adhere to the same reporting requirements as private sector unions. The Resolution In Support of Reporting Requirements for Public Sector Unions calls for legislatures to pass reporting requirements for public sector unions that are similar to requirements for private sector unions. Model Resolution WHEREAS, private sector unions are required by the Labor Management Disclosure Act (LMDA) to adhere to reporting and disclosure requirements; and WHEREAS, state and local public sector unions are governed by state and local law and are not required […]

  • Independent Performance Audits Act February 6, 2013

    Independent Performance Audits Act Intent Section The Legislature finds that it is essential that state governments establish credibility with the taxpayers by implementing independent performance audits to ensure accountability and guarantee that tax dollars are spent as cost-effectively as possible. This measure requires the state auditor to conduct independent, comprehensive performance audits on state governments, agencies, programs, and accounts. Section 1. Short Title. (A) This Act may be cited as the “Independent Performance Audits Act.” Section 2. Definitions. (A) “Government” means an agency, department, office, officer, board, commission, bureau, division, institution, or institution of higher education. This includes individual agencies […]