2006 Delaware Code - CHAPTER 60B — FIRST STATE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUND

§ 6071. Establishment.

(a) The First State Quality Improvement Fund is hereby established within the Office of Management and Budget.

(b) Monies provided to the Fund shall be subject to an annual appropriation by the General Assembly in the Annual Budget Act of the State of Delaware. Appropriations made to the First State Quality Improvement Fund shall not be subject to reversion to the General Fund of the State unless otherwise specified by the General Assembly in the Annual Budget Act. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 88, § 20(6).)

§ 6072. Legislative intent.

The General Assembly finds that State agencies and employees can improve their performance and delivery of services to State citizens by implementing a long-term commitment to total quality management, performance budgeting and other quality initiatives. A First State Quality Improvement Fund will allow agencies to implement quality initiatives and reinvest a percentage of the savings in tools for improving productivity and effectiveness. Agencies may reduce positions requirements through retraining, reassignment, or other methods, such as automation. The General Assembly intends for this process to involve employees at all levels to improve customer confidence and satisfaction with State Government. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1.)

§ 6073. Purposes.

As prescribed by § 6075 of this title, and except as specifically provided in § 6076 of this title, the Fund shall be expended for long-term commitments to total quality management and other quality initiatives. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1.)

§ 6074. Distribution of first state quality improvement fund monies.

The Training and Development Advisory Board shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter, including guidelines for the distribution of these funds. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1.)

§ 6075. Fund purpose.

Moneys appropriated to the Fund may be allocated to state agencies for the following activities:

(1) Create total quality management plans for agencies;

(2) Establish performance-based budgeting measures to quantify effectiveness;

(3) Re-engineer work processes;

(4) Team building;

(5) Other customer satisfaction/quality initiatives;

(6) Continuous improvement;

(7) Empowerment of State employees;

(8) Engage vendors and/or consultants to help:

a. Set direction and goals;

b. Conduct seminars/facilitations for the Governor, cabinet secretaries and top manager;

c. Help selected agencies adopt quality initiatives;

d. Train State employees as trainers to sustain initiatives in other departments. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1.)

§ 6076. Emergency and special appropriations.

(a) In the event of an emergency involving the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the State, any portion of the balance remaining in the Fund may be expended pursuant to an act of appropriation passed by three-fifths of all the members elected to each house of the General Assembly.

(b) In the event of cutbacks in federal funding of State programs affecting the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the State, and upon recommendation by the Joint Finance Committee, any portion of the balance remaining in the Fund may be expended pursuant to an act of appropriation. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1.)

§ 6077. Termination.

The First State Quality Improvement Fund may be terminated when, in the opinion of the Joint Finance Committee, the program has not realized improvement in agency performance, monetary savings to the State or any other reason in which agency or employee performance has not demonstrated proof of improvements to the delivery of State services. Additionally, the Fund may be terminated when all moneys from the Fund have been expended and no further appropriation is approved by the General Assembly. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1.)

§ 6078. Liberal construction of chapter.

This chapter, being necessary for the prosperity and welfare of the State and its citizens, shall be construed liberally to effect the purposes of this chapter. (70 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 1.)