Shared Administrative Services, including Registration and Licensing

SECTION 7.   Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 7A, inserted by section 6 of chapter 131 of the acts of 2010, and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sections:-

Section 7A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, each secretary may, identify administrative activities and related supporting financial functions common to the state agencies within the executive office and may designate such functions as core administrative functions. To improve administrative efficiency and preserve fiscal resources, the secretary may direct that core administrative functions be performed by the executive office or by state agencies designated by the secretary to perform those functions. Common activities and functions that may be designated as core administrative functions include without limitation human resource functions including payroll processing; information technology services; legal services; leasing and facility management services; financial management services, such as budgeting, contract management, and accounts payable/receivable functions; and other administrative functions. The secretary may delegate the secretary's signature authority for such functions to an officer or employee of an agency within the executive office. Nothing in this section shall waive the responsibility of each agency head to certify obligations and expenditures for appropriations and other legally available funds of the agency pursuant to section 3 of chapter 7A, the responsibilities of an agency head pursuant to state finance law, including but not limited to, sections 19, 20, 24, 26 and 27 of chapter 29, and the responsibility of an agency head to certify work by employees of the agency pursuant to section 31 of said chapter 29. The executive office or any state agencies designated to perform core administrative functions may charge the state agencies that receive such services for the reasonable costs of providing the services. Any employee transfers that occur in connection with the consolidation of core administrative functions within the executive office or state agencies shall not: (a) impair the civil service status of any such transferred employee who immediately before the effective date of that transfer either holds a permanent appointment in a position classified under chapter 31 or has tenure in a position by reason of section 9A of chapter 30; or (b) impair or change an employee's status, rights or benefits under chapter 150E.

Section 7B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, each state agency performing licensing and registration services shall identify opportunities for administrative efficiencies, cost savings, and the elimination of unnecessary duplication of effort. If another state agency performs a similar licensing or registration function and possesses core competency in this function, state agencies may enter into interagency service agreements and other contractual or administrative steps with other state agencies for common licensing and registration activities and functions. These agreements shall identify the specific core competency that can be better performed through this agreement and the anticipated cost savings or efficiencies that will be achieved. These agreements shall be solely for the purposes of reducing administrative costs, eliminating duplicative systems and efforts, and achieving efficiencies. The relevant executive office or any state agencies designated to perform licensing or registration functions may charge the state agencies that receive such services for the reasonable costs of providing the services. Any employee transfers that occur in connection with the consolidation or contracting of licensing or registration functions within the executive office or state agencies shall not: (a) impair the civil service status of any such transferred employee who immediately before the effective date of that transfer either holds a permanent appointment in a position classified under chapter 31 or has tenure in a position by reason of section 9A of chapter 30; or (b) impair or change an employee's status, rights or benefits under chapter 150E.
 
 

Summary:
This section expands the FY11 budget authorization for cabinet secretaries to centralize information technology services, to include other administrative services as well, including registration and licensing functions.