Rhode Island House Bill H8168

Rhode Island 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/27/22
• Refer: 4/27/22

Caption

Department Of Administration

Impact

If enacted, H8168 would introduce specific requirements for contractors working with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Administration. The bill stipulates that any contractor must utilize automatic verification software for time tracking on computer work, capturing data and providing real-time status updates regarding the tasks being performed. This step is expected to improve transparency in government spending and ensure that public funds are only allocated for legitimate work performed, thereby minimizing the risks of contractor fraud.

Summary

House Bill H8168 proposes an amendment to Chapter 42-11 of the General Laws, focusing on the Department of Administration. The bill mandates a pilot program for automatic verification of hours worked on computers for contracts exceeding one million dollars. This initiative aims to enhance accountability and ensure that payments for contracted services are properly verified through automated means, thereby addressing issues related to potential billing discrepancies and inefficiencies in the management of state contracts. The pilot must be conducted by the contracting department and is required to report its findings to several legislative committees.

Contention

Points of contention may arise regarding privacy and the extent of monitoring that automated verification entails. Critics might express concerns about the implications of such surveillance on contractors, especially regarding the balance between accountability and personal privacy. Moreover, there may be debates over the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing such technology within the existing framework of state contracts, particularly in terms of the initial costs associated with adopting new software solutions and the potential bureaucratic hurdles that could emerge.