Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
WHEREAS, instead of an efficient, sensible system of
government, New York State has numerous agencies, authorities and other bodies
whose jurisdiction overlaps, resulting in a waste of taxpayers' money, impeding
New York State government's ability to formulate public policy and undermining
its capacity to efficiently deliver necessary services;
WHEREAS, since the completion of the last comprehensive
governmental reorganization in 1927, New York State government has enlarged its
workforce from 29,000 to more than 190,000 and increased its annual budget from
$239 million to $135 billion;
WHEREAS, this growth has been accompanied by an explosion
in the number of agencies and public authorities so that today, there exist
close to 1,000 state agencies, authorities, commissions and other statutorily
created bodies;
WHEREAS, New York State government now faces unprecedented
budgetary challenges that require fundamental changes in the way it does
business, including eliminating failed approaches and creating improved ways to
serve the public;
WHEREAS, it is incumbent on those charged with providing
government services to protect the public's health and safety, educate our
citizens, promote economic development, provide necessary infrastructure,
safeguard fundamental rights and perform other essential functions in a manner
that avoids duplication, delay and unnecessary regulation and
bureaucracy;
WHEREAS, New York State has many business leaders with
experience in restructuring complex organizations and educational and other
non-profit institutions with the knowledge and expertise necessary to improve
the operations and accountability of government;
WHEREAS, it is of compelling public importance that New
York State undertake a redesign of its inefficient and outdated state
government structure and operations by doing a comprehensive review of every
agency of state government and recommending structural and operational changes
in the government; and
WHEREAS, such a review will allow for the elimination or
more efficient organization of duplicative, outdated, unnecessary and
ineffective agencies and authorities and provide for operational improvements
so that government functions effectively and serves taxpayers at the lowest
cost with the greatest value;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State
of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
A. Definitions
As used herein, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
1. "State agency"
or "agency" shall mean any state agency, department, office, board, bureau,
division, committee, council or office.
2. "Public authority" or "authority" shall
mean a public authority or public benefit corporation created by or existing
under any New York State law, with one or more of its members appointed by the
Governor or who serve as members by virtue of holding a civil office of New
York State, other than an interstate or international authority or public
benefit corporation, including any subsidiaries of such public authority or
public benefit corporation.
B. Spending and Government Efficiency
Commission
1. There is hereby established the
Spending and Government Efficiency Commission ("SAGE Commission") that shall
exist to provide independent guidance for, and advice to, the
Governor.
2. The Governor shall
appoint up to 20 voting members of the SAGE Commission. The members of the SAGE
Commission shall include: private citizens; two members of the New York State
Assembly, one recommended by the Speaker of the Assembly and one recommended by
the Minority Leader of the Assembly; and two members of the New York State
Senate, one recommended by the Temporary President of the Senate and one
recommended by the Minority Leader of the Senate. The Director of State Agency
Redesign and Efficiency shall serve as a Co-Chair of the SAGE Commission and
will be responsible for managing any staff whom the Governor shall appoint. The
Governor shall designate one or more additional Co-Chairs from among the other
members of the SAGE Commission. The SAGE Commission shall be authorized to
create sub-committees and task forces that include individuals who are not
members of the SAGE Commission, provided that any recommendation of such
sub-committees and task forces must be approved by the SAGE Commission before
being sent to the Governor. The Director of the Division of the Budget and the
Director of State Operations shall serve as ex officio, non-voting members of
the Commission.
3. Vacancies shall
be filled by the Governor, and the Governor may appoint additional members to
the SAGE Commission as necessary. Members of the SAGE Commission shall serve at
the pleasure of the Governor.
4. A
majority of the total members of the SAGE Commission who have been appointed
shall constitute a quorum, and all recommendations of the SAGE Commission shall
require approval of a majority of its total members appointed by the
Governor.
5. The SAGE Commission
shall attempt to engage and solicit the input of a broad and diverse range of
groups, organizations, and individuals, including, without limitation, members
of the New York State Legislature and representatives of public sector
employees.
C.
Cooperation with the SAGE Commission
1. Every
agency or authority of New York State shall provide to the SAGE Commission
every assistance and cooperation, including use of New York State facilities,
which may be necessary or desirable to fulfill the purposes of this Executive
Order.
2. Staff support necessary
for the conduct of the SAGE Commission's work may be furnished by agencies and
authorities (subject to the approval of the boards of directors of such
authorities). Additional funding necessary for the Commission's work shall be
provided from sources, including appropriated funds, to the extent of available
appropriations. The SAGE Commission may draw upon the human resources,
expertise and funding of private institutions, including those institutions
associated with individuals appointed to the SAGE Commission, as those private
institutions deem appropriate, and as consistent with all statutes, rules and
guidance from the New York State Commission on Public Integrity regarding such
assistance. Such assistance shall be provided without financial remuneration
and shall not be provided under any circumstances that would create an actual
conflict of interest, or the appearance of such a conflict.
D. Duties and Purpose
1. The SAGE Commission shall comprehensively
review and assess New York State government, including, but not limited to, its
structures, operations and processes for governing, with the goal of saving
taxpayer money, increasing accountability and improving the delivery of
government services. This review shall also include a review of commissions,
task forces and councils created by Executive Order or otherwise.
2. The SAGE Commission is charged with
redesigning the organizational structure of government by streamlining,
consolidating or eliminating redundant and unnecessary agencies, authorities,
commissions and other bodies that have overlapping missions; identifying
operational improvements that increase cost effectiveness and improve service
quality such as shared services, enhanced use of Information Technology and
changes in service delivery mechanisms; creating meaningful metrics and targets
to highlight inefficiencies; and identifying activities that are not central to
the core mission of agencies, authorities or New York State government. The
SAGE Commission shall be asked to make recommendations that, if implemented,
would result in the reduction of at least 20 percent of the number of existing
agencies and authorities.
3. The
SAGE Commission shall also examine ways for the government to be more flexible,
transparent, user-friendly and accountable to residents of New York State,
including, without limitation, by developing a performance management system
with meaningful and transparent metrics and targets.
4. The SAGE Commission shall commence its
work not later than January 7, 2011. The SAGE Commission shall submit its
recommendations on agency and authority reorganizations not later than May 1,
2011 or such other date as the Governor shall advise the SAGE Commission. It
shall submit its recommendations for operational efficiencies on an ongoing
basis, with a final report to be presented to the Governor on or before June 1,
2012 or such other date as the Governor shall advise the SAGE Commission. The
SAGE Commission shall terminate its work and be relieved of all
responsibilities and duties hereunder with the submission of its final report.
Signed: Andrew M. CuomoDated: January 5,
2011
