FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Ann Collis
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Fax: 717-783-6839
Email: acollis@pahouse.net

State Rep. Joseph F. Markosek
D-Allegheny and Westmoreland
www.pahouse.com/Markosek

 

 


 

Markosek helps restore PA Quality Improvement Act

 

HARRISBURG, June 6 – Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland, sponsored legislation that passed the House of Representatives this week, which would revamp the Pennsylvania Quality Improvement Act of 1992 by renaming and restructuring the award.

 

“The original Pennsylvania Quality Improvement Act was a good program,” Markosek said. “However, it was somewhat flawed and fell by the wayside.”

 

The purpose of the original law was to establish awards for industries and businesses that demonstrated improvements in operations and quality, and in turn translate it into improved cost-effectiveness, productivity and profit.

 

The bill, H.B. 284, would make several changes to sections of the original law. The most drastic change would rename the organization and restructure the entire foundation and advisory council to represent input from a wider array of citizens.

 

The name of the award would be changed from the Pennsylvania Quality Leadership Award to the Keystone Alliance for Performance Excellence Award. In addition, a new advisory council would be created to replace the former awards council, which would take up the duty of reviewing guidelines and maintaining the integrity of the awards process.

 

Other proposed changes involve a new composition of members for both the advisory council and foundation board of directors. More private citizens would be added to the advisory council, including a C.E.O. from a Pennsylvania Malcolm Baldridge award-winning organization and a president of a state university. Representatives from both the private and public sector would replace business representatives on the foundation board of directors.

 

###cf/2007/agh
l:\print\releases\hb284.025