Press Releases
Governor's Report On Accountability Eliminates Boards, Streamlines Government Agency Regulations Of Business
SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today accepted the first report of recommendations of the state's Government Accountability Council, which proposed the elimination of boards, commissions and hundreds of administrative rules in an effort to improve the operations of Illinois' executive agencies.
"This report addresses the need for continuous improvement in the state's use of technological innovation, economic development tools, and customer service methods," Ryan said. "What we wanted from the Council was substantive proposals on state personnel issues, such as linking professional development to career advancement; and that's exactly what we got. Now we can move on those recommendations."
In his State of the State address, the Governor commended the Office of Statewide Performance Review for recommending the termination of dozens of obsolete and inactive boards and commissions. "I challenged them to look at every program, every regulation in state government," Ryan said. "We're determined to cut government and make it work better, because here in Illinois, it's time for government speak the way our people do-in plain English."
The Council's first report, delivered by Ed Noha, Council Chair, contained findings and recommendations on the delivery of state services with an emphasis on efficiency, effectiveness and accountability.
Noha noted that in the area of state regulatory review and reform, significant accomplishments were made. Each of the 41 agencies under the performance review were asked to assess their administrative rules and determine whether or not they were contradictory to other provisions, obsolete or achieving the intended result. All agencies were required to either amend or repeal procedures, which were found unnecessary or counter-productive.
In the end, more than 638 pages of the Illinois Administrative Code have been recommended for repeal, representing more than 42,000 lines of code. An additional 411 sections of the code will be amended for greater clarity. "This is a key first step," said Noha. "The toughest part of delivering good services to your customer is getting your own house in order. This is how government turns the corner and starts focusing on offering better services to the taxpayer."
The report also contains a state agency program performance review. This section of the report was derived from findings by the Governor's Office, and ranks the agencies according to their first year's effort to adopt strict performance standards.
The second year of the Statewide Performance Review will include work to streamline government, assist state agencies in focusing on their core functions and help measure success toward stated goals. The Council will meet in the near future to set its agenda for 2000. Already targeted for examination are the state's elementary, secondary and higher education systems.
Ryan noted that making government work better is the hallmark of creating a competitive state in the New Economy. The regulatory streamlining recommended by the Council will help Illinois small businesses, another backbone of the New Economy.
"Many of the recommendations are aimed at improving the Illinois business climate," Ryan added. "Others will reduce the difficulty citizens and businesses face when interacting with or receiving services from the state. These changes can help us in our efforts to continue to grow our economy, and to attract and retain high-paying jobs in Illinois."
###
Executive Summary |
Executive Summary of Findings and RecommendationsWith the establishment of Executive Order #7 on March 10, 1999, Governor Ryan created the State Government Accountability Council and the Office of Statewide Performance Review. This powerful executive order opened a strong, direct communication link between the Office of the Governor and the private sector, and began the daunting process of placing all executive branch agencies on a performance-based management system. The State Government Accountability Council was appointed on June 11, 1999. Composed of business leaders, academicians, former government officials, private citizens and others, the Council reviewed a broad array of state issues to select the subject matter that would serve as the focus of its efforts during 1999. To expedite the fact-finding process, the Council divided itself into task forces that could work independently to develop recommendations for the full Council. The task forces included the following: Regulatory Review and Reform, Service Delivery, Customer Service, Asset/Liability Management, Economic Development, State Personnel, and Technology. Over the course of three months, the task forces conducted numerous agency on-site visits, interviews, focus groups, and other techniques for assessing the current state of affairs and the need for change. During October, the Council met to receive the recommendations of its task forces. The recommendations were broad in scope and provided numerous proposed changes in state governmental operations. Many of the recommendations speak to improving the Illinois business climate. Others seek to reduce the difficulty citizens and businesses face when interacting with or receiving services from state agencies. A variety of recommendations were received which create a blueprint for embedding customer service goals in the fabric of state government; other recommendations provide strong suggestions on how Illinois can excel by taking advantage of technological innovation. After the task force presentations, the Council members gave final approval to the inclusion of the specific recommendations in a year's-end report to Governor George Ryan. While the Council reviewed those state issues it believed could be impacted immediately, the Office of Statewide Performance Review (OSPR) conducted a series of program reviews and agency interviews. In establishing a system of performance management, the OSPR focused squarely on the issues of management capacity, program performance measurement, and the structure and location of program administration. Additionally, the OSPR worked with the various agencies to conduct a review of administrative rules and boards and commissions on the basis that these areas impacted the establishment of a performance management system. Taken together, the Council recommendations and the OSPR agency assessment provide both an excellent evaluation of the viability of Illinois state government and the changes necessary to make Illinois a true leader among the 50 states. While the
Council and the OSPR made a great start in 1999, much more remains
to be done. To put it bluntly, we have barely started to scratch
the surface. The following pages of this summary briefly present
some of the more important recommendations contained in the report. |
Government Accountability Proposals
Regulatory Relief Proposals
Tax Relief Proposals
Streamlining Government Proposals
Office
of Statewide Performance Review |
Press Releases