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Session: State Capitol, Room 423 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4940 Fax: (907) 465-3766 Send E-Mail Interim: 716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 450 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0106 Fax: (907) 269-0109 |
For Immediate Release: May 15, 1999
Contact: Senator Jerry Ward at (907) 465-4940.
Juneau -- The Alaska Legislature Saturday passed a measure to establish a commission to explore the potential of turning some state functions over to private industry. The proposal now goes to the governor for signature before becoming law.
"Senate Bill 33 is ranked as one of the most important pieces of legislation to pass this session," said Senator Jerry Ward (R-Anchorage/Kenai), sponsor of the bill. "This legislation will establish a Commission on Privatization and Delivery of Government Services to explore what areas of state government can be run more efficiently and deliver services more effectively."
SB 33 will bring together an 11 member Commission that will report back to the legislature and the governor with suggested legislative changes and recommendations by January 1, 2000.
"Privatization will allow the State to look at options for the future that will make government work better, smarter and faster," said Ward. The report must specify which state:
- functions should be transferred to the private sector or contracted out;
- functions should be transferred to local governments or regional service organizations;
- agencies or functions should be consolidated or otherwise made more efficient;
- functions should be performed by the federal government;
- functions should be eliminated as functions of state government.
"The public's interest is foremost," Ward said. "With the price of oil at a low level and the budget deficits facing Alaska, privatization would force state government to examine various types of cost saving ideas. This will help make state government more efficient." Ward added, "Senate Bill 33 establishes a very objective look at how state government could deliver services to the citizens of the State of Alaska more efficiently. Saving the state money and providing a higher quality of services were two of the goals addressed in this legislation," said Senator Jerry Ward.
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