PROVIDENCE – Following the dismissal of an Executive Office of Health and Human Services lawyer for failing to maintain standing with the R.I. Supreme Court and subsequent failure to file an appeal that could cost the state $24 million, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced she had directed the R.I. Department of Administration to implement reforms that will increase employee accountability and strengthen the state’s requirements of state employees for maintaining licensing and certifications.
The governor also instructed the DOA to clarify policies so supervisors may discipline or dismiss employees that do not have up-to-date certification or licenses, as well as discipline or dismiss employees who violate the professional standards or professional codes of conduct required by their licensing bodies.
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“We’re taking a step today to end a decades-old culture that has weakened and muddled Rhode Island’s personnel policies. Supervisors don’t have the proper tools and safeguards in place to hold people accountable,” Raimondo said in a statement. “The vast majority of state workers are dedicated public servants, and they go above and beyond the public’s expectation. But, in any large organization, there are people who fall short. Taxpayers – and good-standing state employees – deserve to know that we’re going to be able to hold bad apples accountable.”
The announcement also included the following:
- Beginning July 1, all attorneys on the state payroll who represent the state in any legal capacity must provide annual documentation that they are in good standing with the state Supreme Court and Bar Association.
- The R.I. Office of Internal Audit will conduct random checks of employees required to hold certifications or licensees.
- Upon entering service, all new state employees will be required to sign an acknowledgement of their responsibility to maintain certifications and licenses.
- Raimondo has directed Senior Counsel Adi Goldstein to lead a complete review of all outstanding or pending litigation of more than $100,000 and report her findings to the governor within the next 30 days.
The governor also said she directed the Department of Administration, earlier this week, to regularly cross-reference the master list of state attorneys against the list of licensed attorneys maintained by the Rhode Island Bar Association and the state Supreme Court.
Raimondo’s opponents in the upcoming gubernatorial race have jumped on the governor for the recent discovery of failed filings and lawyer resignations.
