Florida Senate - 2009              PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
       Bill No. SB 44-A
       
       
       
       
       
                                Barcode 406346                          
       
       576-00116-09A                                                   
       Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Policy and
       Steering Committee on Ways and Means
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to governmental operations; requiring
    3         state agencies to review existing and proposed
    4         contracts for the purpose of reducing contract
    5         payments; authorizing agencies to renegotiate
    6         contracts; providing for future expiration of such
    7         provisions; establishing the policy of the state
    8         concerning limitations on travel by state employees
    9         for a specified period; providing for certain
   10         exceptions; requiring that agencies consider using
   11         electronic communications; requiring the Office of
   12         Program Policy Analysis and Governmental
   13         Accountability, in consultation with the Department of
   14         Management Services, to recommend legislation
   15         governing the use of cellular telephones and other
   16         devices by state employees; requiring the office to
   17         examine whether a private entity should be used to
   18         recover fraudulent Medicaid claims; requiring the
   19         office to examine the use of alternative placements
   20         for low-risk inmates; requiring reports to the
   21         Legislature by a specified date; providing an
   22         effective date.
   23         
   24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   25         
   26         Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the
   27  contrary, each state agency shall review existing and proposed
   28  contracts with private providers and public-private providers in
   29  an effort to reduce contract payments. It is the statewide goal
   30  to achieve substantial savings; however, it is the intent of the
   31  Legislature that the level and quality of services not be
   32  affected. Each agency may renegotiate contracts consistent with
   33  this section. The Legislature intends that its substantive and
   34  fiscal committees will review the results of this effort and the
   35  effectiveness of each agency in meeting the goal. This section
   36  expires July 1, 2009.
   37         Section 2. It is the policy of the state that funds
   38  appropriated to each state agency which may be used for travel
   39  by state employees be limited, until July 1, 2009, to travel for
   40  activities that are critical to the state agency's mission.
   41  Funds may not be used to pay for travel by state employees to
   42  foreign countries, other states, conferences, staff-training
   43  activities, or other administrative functions unless the
   44  respective agency head has determined that such activities are
   45  critical to the agency's mission. Travel for law enforcement
   46  purposes, military purposes, emergency management activities,
   47  and public health activities is not covered by this section. The
   48  agency head, or his or her designee, must consider the use of
   49  teleconferencing and other forms of electronic communication to
   50  meet the needs of the proposed activity before approving
   51  mission-critical travel.
   52         Section 3. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
   53  Governmental Accountability, in consultation with the Department
   54  of Management Services, shall develop recommended legislation
   55  governing the procurement, assignment, and use of cellular
   56  telephones and personal digital assistants by state employees
   57  and identify potential cost savings, and shall submit the
   58  proposal to the Legislature before March 3, 2009.
   59         Section 4. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
   60  Government Accountability shall examine the option of
   61  contracting with a private entity to identify and recover
   62  fraudulent Medicaid claims on a contingency-fee basis and submit
   63  its findings and recommendations to the Legislature before March
   64  3, 2009.
   65         Section 5. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
   66  Government Accountability shall examine the option of expanding
   67  the use of alternative inmate placements, such as work-release
   68  and work camps, for low-risk inmates and submit its findings and
   69  recommendations to the Legislature before March 3, 2009.
   70         Section 6. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.