OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday signed a series of
measures aimed at increasing efficiency across government agencies.
“Our goal since taking office has
been to make government more efficient while saving taxpayer dollars,” Governor
Bentley said. “We are working closely with members of the Alabama
Legislature to accomplish this goal. The measures I am signing today will
all help us achieve greater efficiency.”
“I applaud this Legislature for
making right-sizing government a priority,” Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey
said. “Continuing economic challenges have taught us to tighten our belts
and look for efficiencies in government where possible. I am confident
these measures will result in saving the state millions of dollars and will
help serve the people of Alabama
more efficiently and effectively.”
“While President Obama and the
federal government continue to bloat and expand, Alabama is taking the necessary steps to
ensure that our state is operating in the most efficient manner possible,”
said Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn). “Republicans are the
party of smaller government, and we owe it to our state’s taxpayers to
streamline our efforts to the best of our ability. The bills signed by
Governor Bentley today will make good on our commitment to the people of Alabama.”
State Law
Enforcement – Senate Bill 108:
This legislation signed by the
Governor will better coordinate state-level law enforcement. The result
will be better public safety for the people of Alabama.
Senate Bill 108 accomplishes this
by streamlining the administrative-level functions of state law enforcement
agencies. Currently, more than 20 state agencies and departments provide
law enforcement services. By improving coordination, this bill will help
minimize redundancies and allow more resources to be focused on the actual law
enforcement services that are delivered to the public.
“We appreciate the service and
dedication of all of our state law enforcement officers,” Governor Bentley
said. “As we improve coordination between their departments, we’ll be able to better protect our citizens while also
saving taxpayers money.”
“When it comes to cutting costs
and working toward a more efficient government, no one has been more committed
to this effort than Governor Bentley and my colleagues in the Legislature,”
said Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), who sponsored this
legislation. “After more than two years of work involving countless hours
from representatives from the law enforcement community, we have a model that
will result in better, more cost-effective services to the people of Alabama.”
“As a retired state trooper,
oftentimes my colleagues and I would see ways that our agency and partnering
agencies could be run more efficiently and effectively,” said the bill’s House
Sponsor, Representative Mike Ball (R-Madison). “After much study and thorough
investigation, this legislation will finally streamline Alabama’s law enforcement efforts while
conserving taxpayer dollars and maximizing efficiency.”
Senate Bill 108 establishes the
Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and a Secretary of Law Enforcement to
oversee state-level law enforcement functions. Governor Bentley will
appoint the Secretary in the coming months.
Information
Technology – Senate Bill 117:
Governor Bentley signed this
legislation to streamline the state’s information technology
Currently, there is little
coordination among state-level, non-education agencies in many areas involving
I.T. The result is that state agencies often have I.T. systems that are
not compatible with each other, and simple cost-saving measures such as buying
in bulk across state agencies are not realized.
This bill addresses those problems
by establishing a Secretary of Information Technology who will identify ways to
save money and improve coordination within the state’s I.T. networks. The
Secretary will develop and implement a responsible plan to coordinate the
purchasing, management and use of I.T. across state agencies.
“Our Secretary of Information
Technology will help us organize I.T. to make it more efficient, to save
taxpayer dollars and to make it more secure,” Governor Bentley said. “By
improving coordination, we can make sure we’re spending money wisely and saving
money where we can.”
The Secretary of Information
Technology will be appointed by Governor Bentley in the near future. A
legislative oversight committee will review the operations and performance of
the Secretary.
“As state operations become more
and more dependent upon technology, it’s imperative that we have someone to
hold accountable for making sure we’re operating in the most efficient and
responsible manner,” said Senator Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City), who sponsored
the legislation. “The signing of this bill marks a positive step toward
significant cost savings for state I.T. functions, and I’m proud to have been a
part of this effort.”
“As a businessman, I know that in
order to keep the doors open, it’s important to maximize your efficiencies and
results while minimizing your overhead,” said Representative Ken Johnson
(R-Moulton), House Sponsor of the legislation. “It is imperative to have
someone to hold accountable for making sure I.T. is managed in the most
efficient way possible, particularly at a time when we are becoming
increasingly dependent on technology to operate.”
Fleet
Management:
Also Thursday, Governor Bentley
signed an executive order that will increase efficiency in the management and
maintenance of state-owned vehicles.
The executive order establishes an
Office of Fleet Management and a Fleet Manager within the Alabama Department of
Transportation. The Fleet Manager will work with state agencies to assess
the state’s current fleet of vehicles. The Fleet Manager will then
develop a uniform, statewide program to ensure the most efficient methods of
managing those vehicles.
The program will focus on issues
such as fuel efficiency and cost-effective maintenance. The goal is to
have the lowest possible cost per mile driven.
“The Department of Transportation
has done an excellent job in fleet management, and we are choosing ALDOT to
oversee management of the entire state’s fleet program,” Governor Bentley
said. “The Fleet Manager will work closely with all agencies to make this
transition as efficient and seamless as possible.”
Upcoming legislation from Senator
Cam Ward and Representative Greg Wren will also help support more efficient
fleet management.
“This efficiency reform to our
state fleet policies will help bring Alabama’s
vehicle management into the 21st century,” Senator Ward (R-Alabaster)
said. “I’ve worked on these issues since I was first elected, and I’m
proud of our Governor for his forward-thinking leadership. This not only
cuts down on energy use, it will also save the state millions of tax dollars
and allow us to upgrade public safety vehicles at the same time. This
reform will be an enormous savings for state government, which is a win-win for
everyone.”
“I’d like to commend Governor
Bentley for working with the Legislature to create a state fleet management
program within the Department of Transportation,” Representative Wren
(R-Montgomery) said. “As an executive agency, ALDOT will have the
responsibility to develop and manage thousands of taxpayer-owned vehicles in
order to reduce transportation costs, improve operating efficiencies and
provide a lower-cost vehicle replacement program during the years ahead.
This Executive Order to create a Fleet Manager within ALDOT is consistent with
Governor Bentley’s efforts to save taxpayer dollars. I applaud the
Governor and ALDOT Director John Cooper for their ongoing working relationship
with the Legislature.”
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The Governor’s Press Office
can be reached at 334-242-7150.