Connecticut State Department of Administrative Services

Back to Articles

Modernizing State Government Operations

Posted 8/5/2021
By Gene Burk
Government InnovationProcurement

In July, I joined Governor Lamont in New Canaan when he signed Public Act 2176 that improves businesses access to working with state government, helps Connecticut gain access to cutting-edge technology, and ensures that outdated bureaucratic processes are not a hindrance to accessing critical goods and services in times of need.

Some of these changes are:

  • Allows state and quasi-public agencies to conduct business transactions with residents entirely online, without the use of paper;

  • Streamlines Small and Minority-owned business definitions to mirror the Small Business Administration’s (SBA), eliminating conflicting registration standards and making those standards industry-specific;

  • Allows the State to procure certain purchases more quickly during emergencies; and,

  • Eliminates numerous duplicative reporting requirements from state agencies to the Department of Administrative Services

This continues this administration’s goal of streamlining or entirely eliminating outdated processes that have built barriers between government and those who interact with us every day like our hard-working business owners. These commonsense changes are just part of our broader efforts to modernize state government in ways that residents and businesses expect so they can spend their valuable time growing businesses, supporting their communities, and the overall economy of the state of Connecticut.

These advancements will also support the state in preparing for the wave of retirements anticipated in 2022.

If we learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that we can’t let bureaucratic processes stand in the way of public health and safety, or in the way of us completing day-to-day work necessary for the operation of State government. These changes will help make sure we continue to be prepared for what’s next. 

DAS continues to work towards modernizing state functions so that services can be delivered in a way that promotes Connecticut's economy and eases the ability to do business with the state.