First State Quality Improvement Fund

Del. Code tit. 29, ch. 60B

in effect

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6071 Establishment.

(a) The First State Quality Improvement Fund is hereby established within the Department of Human Resources. (b) Moneys provided to the Fund shall be subject to an annual appropriation by the General Assembly in the Annual Budget Act of the State of Delaware. Appropriations made to the First State Quality Improvement Fund shall not be subject to reversion to the General Fund of the State unless otherwise specified by the General Assembly in the Annual Budget Act.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6072 Legislative intent.

The General Assembly finds that Delaware state agencies and employees can improve their performance and delivery of services to Delaware citizens by implementing a long-term commitment to continuous improvement, performance budgeting and other initiatives. A First State Quality Improvement Fund supports implementation of operational excellence initiatives and reinvestment of savings in tools for improving efficiency and effectiveness. Agencies may reduce positions requirements through retraining, reassignment, or other methods, such as automation. The General Assembly intends for this process to involve employees at all levels to improve customer confidence and satisfaction with Delaware state government.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6073 Purposes.

(a) The Fund shall be expended for long-term commitments to continuous quality improvement and other operational excellence initiatives, except as provided in § 6076. (b) Moneys appropriated to the Fund may be allocated for activities and programs based on commonly-accepted industry best practices: (1) Create continuous quality improvement plans for agencies. (2) Establish performance-based budgeting measures to quantify effectiveness. (3) Re-engineer work processes consistent with Lean and other process improvement methodologies. (4) Train employees and leadership to lead continuous improvement organizations. (5) Other operational excellence initiatives. (6) Engage vendors and/or consultants to: a. Set strategic direction and goals. b. Conduct seminars/facilitations for executive branch leadership. c. Help selected agencies adopt operational excellence initiatives. d. Train Delaware state employees as trainers to sustain initiatives.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6074 Distribution and accountability of the First State Quality Improvement Fund.

The Department of Human Resources Training and HR Solutions Division in partnership with the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Program management team shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter, including guidelines for the distribution of these funds.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6075 Fund purpose [Repealed].

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6076 Emergency and special appropriations.

(a) In the event of an emergency involving the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the State, any portion of the balance remaining in the Fund may be expended pursuant to an act of appropriation passed by 3 / 5 of all the members elected to each house of the General Assembly. (b) In the event of cutbacks in federal funding of Delaware state programs affecting the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the State, and upon recommendation by the Joint Finance Committee, any portion of the balance remaining in the Fund may be expended pursuant to an act of appropriation.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6077 Termination.

The First State Quality Improvement Fund may be terminated by the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Joint Finance Committee when, in the opinion of the Joint Finance Committee, the program has not realized improvement in agency performance, monetary savings to the State or any other reason in which agency or employee performance has not demonstrated proof of improvements to the delivery of Delaware state services. Additionally, the Fund may be terminated when all moneys from the Fund have been expended and no further appropriation is approved by the General Assembly.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 6078 Liberal construction of chapter.

This chapter, being necessary for the prosperity and welfare of the State and its citizens, shall be construed liberally to effect the purposes of this chapter.

Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c060b/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026