Rhode Island § 42-148-1 - Privatization of State Services

§ 42-148-1. Statement of intent.

If it is determined that privatization of certain governmental functions may be appropriate, the privatization inquiry process should be well defined with appropriate nonpartisan, institutional oversight. The principles that guide a privatization inquiry shall include the following:

(1) To ensure the potential savings are realized and maximized — build cost controls and containment incentives into contracts to eliminate excessive and unreasonable overhead costs and profits at the expense of citizens of the state;

(2) To preserve and promote competition — permit in-house program managers and public employees to bid for the contract on a level playing field;

(3) To ensure quality and responsiveness — develop reliable measures of service quality, strengthen in-house monitoring capacity and expertise, and write contracts with periodic performance reporting;

(4) To ensure accountability, control, and avoidance of conflicts of interest with departmental managers — write detailed contract specifications, and require record-keeping and periodic reports;

(5) To address legal and political barriers — involve affected groups in the decision-making process; and

(6) To recognize the impact on service recipients, employees, and their families — enable public employees to have an opportunity to bid for their work.