Key Streamlining Proposal Vote Tuesday, Nov. 3

BATON ROUGE—The State Commission on Streamlining Government will vote tomorrow, November 3, to adopt, amend or reject the proposed recommendation AGEB#6, to "prohibit all state appropriations to nongovernmental entities."

The proposed recommendation is non-binding. But if accepted and passed into law, it would eliminate line-item state funding of nonprofit organizations.

Nonprofits would still be able to receive public support through competitive departmental grants and bid processes.

Consideration of AGEB#6 is scheduled for tomorrow's meeting, which begins at 9:00am in Senate Committee Room A-B of the Louisiana State Capitol. The vote is listed as item 7 on the meeting agenda, following an opportunity for public comment.

LANO has provided testimony on this issue in two separate meetings. President & CEO Ann S. Williamson appeared before the commission's Advisory Group on Outsourcing, Privatization and Risk Management on Friday, October 23, to share critical information about the nonprofit sector and opportunities for partnership with state government.

The Advisory Group requested further information on specific areas in which state government could successfully outsource functions to the nonprofit sector. LANO Vice President of Public Policy, Dr. Alison Neustrom, provided an initial list of such recommendations to the Commission at its October 28 meeting. A video of Neustrom's testimony is available at this link; comments begin near time signature 3:47:50.

LANO invites all Louisiana nonprofits to suggest additional ways in which the sector can provide efficient and effective opportunities for state government outsourcing. The Commission accepts suggestions at its scheduled public meetings and through an online form.

LANO will continue to follow and report on this issue, and to provide expert testimony and suggestions that advance the state nonprofit sector's profile as an essential provider of important human services.

The Commission on Streamlining Government was launched by Executive Order on April 24, 2009. The goal of the streamlining commission is to make Louisiana state government more efficient and cost-effective. A list of Commission members can be found here.