In yet another underhanded last-minute move, Commissioner Terri White of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services tried to pass legislation eliminating the rights of all state employees when an agency considers privatization. OPEA successfully fought back her attempts in a battle that went to the last few moments of legislative session.
“It’s obvious from the bills she tried to change at the end of legislative session, Terri White wants to close or privatize her services without oversight from any elected representatives,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley. “In SB 1600, she tried to take important rights away from all state employees, not just those at DMHSAS.”
With a week left in session, language was added to SB 1600 (Crain, Schwartz) in the Senate General Conference Committee on Appropriations to amend the Privatization of State Functions Act. The change would have raised the threshold to notify employees when an agency is considering privatization and their opportunity to compete from $100,000 to $1 million. In addition, the bill would have reduced employee rights to compete for their jobs. The Privatization of State Functions Act was originally signed into law by Governor Keating and later modified during Governor Henry’s administration.
Under the current law, state employees are allowed to compete for their jobs by proposing ideas and changes in programs that would improve efficiency and lower the cost of the current function, when privatization is being considered. Allowing those who are on the front line to make improvements provides an avenue for more efficient use of taxpayer dollars, while preserving quality jobs.
On Friday afternoon, SB 1600 passed the Senate 35-12. With 40 minutes left in the session, Rep. Schwartz called up the bill for consideration in the House. Rep. Jason Nelson, who worked in the Keating administration, questioned increasing the threshold from $100,000 to $1 million.
“When you raise the threshold you lose the opportunity for competition and to create savings,” Nelson asked Schwartz. “So you are saying that it’s not a good idea to have employees who are already on site, that work there, offer a competitive proposal?”
After questions about procedural issues from Rep. Mark McCullough, Rep. Mike Reynolds and other legislators, Schwartz asked to hold the bill over. With 20 minutes left in session, Schwartz called the bill up again. The second time, questions and debate were not allowed, and the vote was immediately activated. OPEA was ecstatic to see the bill soundly defeated 29-68.
“Through the hard work of OPEA members and staff, state employees will keep this important right and taxpayer dollars will be saved when an agency considers privatization,” said Zearley. “It is sad when an agency director attacks not only her own employees, but all state workers.”
Posted on
Wed, June 2, 2010
by Trish Frazier