A bill Rep. Carol McFarlane co-authored to promote government efficiency overwhelmingly passed the House recently.
McFarlane, R-White Bear Lake, co-chairs a working group which has been
meeting for more than a year to help schools and government agencies
collaborate to maximize their resources. She crisscrossed the state with
fellow co-chair Rep. Marsha Swails, D-Woodbury, to find out first-hand
what can be done to help local officials streamline their services.
“We hit the road looking for common-sense solutions and outcomes to
improve the delivery of services and procurement for an efficient and
cost-effective government,” McFarlane said. “Specifically, we wanted
to find out what obstacles are hindering these groups, and also wanted
to learn what good practices already are in place so we can share that
information with others across the state.”
The bill (H.F. 2840) McFarlane and Swails co-authored and led to House
passage would create a 12-member Collaborative Governance Council to
develop recommendations for increased governmental collaboration by:
● reviewing laws and rules that slow collaboration efforts;
● use of collaboration to improve the delivery of governmental
services;
● using technology to connect entities and share information;
● modernizing financial transactions; and
● creating model forms for joint power agreements.
“We received strong support at legislative hearings and meetings,”
McFarlane said. “We remained in contact with stakeholders and agreed
upon a series of objectives which became key components in the bill. The
state auditor will convene the council to work on those objectives and
the outcomes will be recommended to the Legislature. This will require
us to collaborate, cooperate and communicate in new ways that will help
us become more efficient and effective in the services we deliver to
Minnesotans.”
The House passed the bill 108-22. Senators approved a similar version
62-2 earlier this session. Slight changes in the House language mean
another vote in the Senate must take place before the bill can be
presented to the governor for his action. |
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