Virginia agencies would report savings and review state services

State agencies would report on possible savings and explain when they do not carry out a reported measure. These duties cover state executive-branch agencies and savings measures within each agency's authority. Reports would describe expected savings, barriers, and whether the agency plans to pursue each measure. An agency that does not implement a measure within 180 days would explain why and give an updated timeline or say it will not proceed. The first report would be due within 90 days after the act takes effect; later reports would be due each October 1.

A state health task force would review health funding and Medicaid health plans, then report findings and recommendations. The task force would review funding and services across the Health and Human Resources Secretariat and set performance measures for plans serving Virginia Medicaid members. The task force could recommend contract changes, improvement plans, payment incentives or penalties, and contract nonrenewal for plans that persistently miss benchmarks; it would not make those changes itself. The Medicaid agency director would respond in writing to recommendations within 60 days. The task force would report quarterly, and it would publish an annual report comparing health plans with its performance measures.

State officials would review housing rules, and some rules identified as barriers could end unless an agency makes a case to keep them. The review would cover state rules and permitting practices that affect residential housing development. A rule identified by the housing commission as a barrier would end 18 months later unless its agency submits a written justification and the Joint Subcommittee accepts it; if the subcommittee does not act within 90 days, the justification is accepted. Rules required by federal law or as a condition of federal funding are exempt. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade would report review findings within 180 days after the act takes effect; the 18-month period would begin when the commission identifies a rule as a barrier.

State agencies would review government operations and report on possible efficiencies; officials would publish information and assess effects before some service changes. The duties apply to state agencies and named state departments, including the Department of General Services and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. The bill calls for reviews of areas including contracts, technology systems, state buildings, vacancies, fees, grants, and federal funding risks; these reviews do not themselves order agencies to make cuts. Before a measure that would significantly affect public services, the agency would assess effects on vulnerable people and send the assessment to the Joint Subcommittee. Two percent of agency IT appropriations would be held pending compliance, except for emergency technology purchases; unreleased funds would revert at year end. Emergency purchases must be reported within 30 days. Many reports would be due within 180 or 270 days after the act takes effect, with some reports required quarterly or annually; emergency technology purchases would be reported within 30 days.