Lamont Wants to Cut Red Tape for Businesses

Gov. Ned Lamont announced a series of proposals this week designed to cut government red tape and make it easier for businesses to work with the state.

Lamont and Department of Administration Services Commissioner Josh Geballe say the proposals are designed to streamline government forms and ultimately make it easier for businesses to work with the state.

“With fresh eyes, an aggressive approach, and collaboration, we can modernize state government the way it should be,” Lamont said.

“It is too difficult to navigate through our agencies—it slows down our employees and our businesses.

“Commissioner Geballe has hit the ground running and, in just over two months, already identified ways to eliminate burdensome red tape.”

Legislation

Lamont cited HB 7385, which the legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee approved last week and is awaiting House action.

The bill modifies requirements for the affirmations, certifications, and affidavits contractors are required to submit for large state contracts.

Currently, every business that wants to sell to the state has to complete at least seven forms in the procurement process.

HB 7385, developed by DAS, reduces that to one form while maintaining the state’s standards for fair and ethical contracting, Lamont said.

Businesses can share their ideas for reducing government bureaucracy using the hashtag #cutredtapeCT on social media or by emailing cutredtape@ct.gov.

He said the bill will eliminate over 90,000 forms submitted to the state each year.

CBIA’s Eric Gjede says businesses will welcome the proposals, noting that “any effort that helps to streamline the way the state contracts with and regulates businesses is worthy of consideration.”

“It is also important to recognize that the significant number of legal documents required for the execution of one of these contracts is often a barrier for smaller contractors, particularly minority- and women-owned firms that wish to do business with the state,” he said.

Online Transactions

Geballe said the state can simplify matters for businesses by putting more forms online.

“Citizens and businesses in this state are our customers, and we can help them by simplifying processes and eliminating wasteful duplication of data collection,” he said.

Other DAS initiatives include:

• Simplifying redundant processes
• Reducing manual processes with a goal of having every transaction online
• Modernizing the state’s electronic sourcing system
• Cutting duplicative functions across agencies
• Consolidating purchasing of enterprise systems and software

Businesses and residents can share their ideas for reducing government bureaucracy using the hashtag #cutredtapeCT on social media or by emailing cutredtape@ct.gov.

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric Gjede (860.480.1784) | @egjede