Louisiana House Bill HB328

Louisiana 2012 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/12/12
• Refer: 3/12/12
• Report Pass: 5/7/12
• Engrossed: 5/15/12
• Refer: 5/16/12

Caption

Requires certain reductions in the number of positions in the executive branch of state government (EG DECREASE EX See Note)

Impact

The bill has significant implications for state employment and budget management. By instituting a program that forces departments to reduce personnel, HB 328 seeks to streamline government operations and reduce fiscal liabilities. Each executive unit is tasked with maintaining its operational effectiveness while cutting jobs and expenditures, which poses challenges in ensuring that the quality of services and administrative functions are not adversely affected during this process.

Summary

House Bill 328 establishes the State Government Employment Reduction Program which mandates a reduction of at least 5,000 positions in the executive branch of the state government for each of the three fiscal years starting from 2012-2013, with the aim of cutting personnel expenditures by $500 million by 2015-2016. The bill requires administrative heads of each employment reduction unit to undergo a systematic approach to position reduction, focusing on attrition and maintaining the quality of work outputs despite personnel cuts.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 328 appears to be mixed. Supporters argue that the bill is an essential step towards creating a more efficient and cost-effective government structure by reducing redundancy in public service roles. However, detractors express concern about the potential negative effects on government services and employee morale, as well as the fear that essential staff might be cut, leading to operational inefficiencies.

Contention

A point of contention in the debates surrounding HB 328 involves the method of achieving the mandated reductions. Critics highlight the pressure placed on managers to comply with reduction targets while simultaneously ensuring that their units can function efficiently. There is skepticism over whether it is feasible to execute significant cuts without sacrificing service quality, which raises legitimate concerns about the future capabilities of various state departments.