Section 1 [Citation] names this act the “Back Office Consolidation Act.”

Section 2 [Benchmarking Studies] appropriates money for fiscal year 2012 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Administration to contract for a benchmark study on the efficiency and effectiveness of the following back office functions:  finance; procurement; and human resources, including payroll.  This is a onetime appropriation.  The study shall result in a benchmark report to be completed by November __, 2012, with specified content, including an identification of improvement initiatives for the state to increase efficiency and effectiveness.  Copies of the benchmark report will be provided to chairs and ranking minority members on appropriate committees in both bodies.

Section 3 [Improvement Initiatives] requires the Commissioner of Administration to submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members on appropriate committees in both bodies.  The report shall include a plan for implementing improvement initiatives identified in the benchmark study and any draft legislation that is required to implement the improvements.

Section 4 [Effective Date] makes Sections 1 to 3 effective on the day following final enactment.

SJJ/rdr