S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5615
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 13, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. ERRIGO, ALFANO, BALL, FINCH, GIGLIO, HAWLEY,
KOLB, McKEVITT, TOWNSEND -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARRA,
CROUCH, DUPREY, JORDAN, MOLINARO, SALADINO, SAYWARD, SPANO, WALKER,
WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental
Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
bright ideas rewarded program within the office of general services to
solicit, review and reward citizen suggestions to improve the effi-
ciency and economy of state government
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding two new sections
203-a and 203-b to read as follows:
S 203-A. BRIGHT IDEAS REWARDED PROGRAM. THE STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES SHALL HAVE POWER AND IT SHALL BE ITS DUTY: (A) TO FORMULATE,
ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PLAN OR PLANS, TO BE KNOWN AS THE BRIGHT IDEAS
REWARDED PROGRAM, TO ENCOURAGE AND REWARD SUGGESTIONS BY CITIZENS TO
PROMOTE EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF STATE GOVERNMENT;
(B) TO APPOINT DEPARTMENTAL OR DIVISIONAL BOARDS OR COMMITTEES, FROM
AMONG PERSONS NOMINATED THEREFOR BY THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY
HEADS, WHICH SHALL ANALYZE AND REVIEW SUGGESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR CONSID-
ERATION UNDER SUCH PLAN OR PLANS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THEREON TO THE
AGENCY; (C) TO MAKE AND RENDER MERIT AWARDS TO CITIZENS NOMINATED TO
RECEIVE THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH PLAN OR PLANS; AND (D) TO ADOPT AND
PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF ANY PLAN OR
PLANS ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS ARTICLE, THE CHARACTER AND QUALITY OF
SUGGESTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION, THE METHOD
OF THEIR SUBMISSION AND THE PROCEDURE FOR THEIR REVIEW, NOMINATIONS FOR
MERIT AWARDS, AND THE KIND, CHARACTER AND VALUE OF SUCH AWARDS, AND SUCH
OTHER RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05825-01-9
A. 5615 2
FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ARTICLE OR FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT
OF THE PURPOSES THEREOF.
S 203-B. AWARDS. (A) THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES SHALL PRESENT THE
CITIZEN RESPONSIBLE, A CASH AWARD OF NO LESS THAN TEN PERCENT OF THE
FIRST YEAR ANNUAL SAVINGS TO THE STATE REALIZED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
SUCH CITIZEN'S SUGGESTION.
(B) THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES SHALL SATISFY ITSELF THAT THE
SAVINGS TO THE STATE ARE REAL AND NOT MERELY APPARENT, AND THAT THEY ARE
NOT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, THE RESULT OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. A LOWERING OF THE LEVEL OR QUALITY OF THE SERVICE RENDERED;
2. REDUCED PASS-THROUGH ON TRANSFER EXPENDITURES;
3. RECEIPTS REALIZED IN EXCESS OF AMOUNTS BUDGETED;
4. NONRECURRENCE OF EXPENDITURES WHICH WERE SINGLE OUTLAY, OR ONE-TIME
EXPENDITURES, IN THE PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR;
5. FAILURE TO REWARD DESERVING EMPLOYEES THROUGH PROMOTIONS, RECLASSI-
FICATION, AWARD OF MERIT SALARY INCREMENTS, OR SALARY INCREASES AUTHOR-
IZED BY SALARY RANGE REVISIONS;
6. POSTPONEMENT OF NORMAL PURCHASES AND REPAIRS TO A FUTURE FISCAL
YEAR;
7. STOCKPILING INVENTORIES IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR SO
AS TO REDUCE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ELIGIBLE FISCAL YEAR;
8. SUBSTITUTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS OR ANY FUNDS WHICH ARE NOT STATE
FUNDS FOR STATE APPROPRIATIONS;
9. UNREASONABLE POSTPONEMENT OF PAYMENTS OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE UNTIL THE
FISCAL YEAR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ELIGIBLE FISCAL YEAR;
10. SHIFTING OF EXPENSES TO ANOTHER AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, COMMISSION, OR
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT;
11. ANY OTHER PRACTICE, EVENT, OR DEVICE WHICH THE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES DECIDES HAS CAUSED A DISTORTION WHICH MISREPRESENTS THAT A
SAVINGS OR INCREASE IN LEVEL OF SERVICES HAS OCCURRED.
(C) THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES MAY CONSIDER BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO
CONSIDERING AS LEGITIMATE SAVINGS THOSE REDUCTIONS IN EXPENDITURES MADE
POSSIBLE BY SUCH ITEMS AS THE FOLLOWING:
1. REDUCTIONS IN OVERTIME;
2. ELIMINATION OF CONSULTANT FEES;
3. LESS TEMPORARY HELP;
4. IMPROVED METHODS OF COMMUNICATION;
5. IMPROVED SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES;
6. BETTER DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION OF MANPOWER;
7. ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY TRAVEL;
8. ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY PRINTING AND MAILING;
9. ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY PAYMENTS FOR ADVERTISING, MEMBERSHIPS,
DUES, AND SUBSCRIPTIONS;
10. ELIMINATION OF WASTE, DUPLICATION, AND OPERATIONS OF DOUBTFUL
VALUE;
11. IMPROVED SPACE UTILIZATION;
12. PROVEN COST-REDUCTION TECHNIQUES;
13. ANY OTHER ITEMS CONSIDERED BY THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES AS
REPRESENTING TRUE SAVINGS.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.