News Release - Attorney General’s Office Receives 17 Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards

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Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

April 2, 2008

en Español

Print Version

Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Attorney General’s Office Receives 17 Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards

~ Total savings from innovation and productivity improvements worth over $8.4 million ~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has received 17 Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards for both team and individual efforts to increase productivity and save money for Florida taxpayers and businesses. The estimated total savings for this year from the productivity improvements and innovation is more than $8.4 million and the agency was also recognized for nearly $600 million in other consumer protection recoveries. The number is historically significant for the Attorney General’s Office, as the agency has received a total of 21 awards over the past 20 years, not counting this year’s recipients.

“As we look for creative ways to continue serving Florida’s citizens in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible, I am pleased that so many members of the Attorney General’s Office have been recognized for their dedication to productivity and quality work,” said Attorney General McCollum.

Among the award recipients was a task force in the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor which was commended for stopping a multi-million dollar fraud scheme; a 43-person team in the Victim Services Division which streamlined and expedited crime victims’ compensation claims processing through document imaging; several teams comprised of individuals from the Information Technology Division which developed numerous time- and efficiency-saving processes for interagency systems; a Medicaid Fraud Investigator who was recognized for outstanding dedication to the Patient Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Team; and two individuals in the Economic Crimes Division who stopped a Pinellas County man from extorting child support payments from non-custodial parents. Three awards included a cash grant to the winners.

In addition to team and individual winners, the Lemon Law Division received an award for 20 years of exemplary performance through the Lemon Law Arbitration Program, with more than $362 million retrieved for Florida consumers. The Antitrust Division received an award for more than 20 years of exemplary performance, with $215 million in recoveries for the State of Florida.

Since 1989, the Davis Productivity Award program, now known as the Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards, has publicly recognized and rewarded state employees and work units whose work significantly and measurably increases productivity and promotes innovation to improve the delivery of state services and saves money for Florida taxpayers and businesses. The 2008 awards competition attracted 489 nominations for innovations and productivity improvements worth $322 million in cost savings, cost avoidances, and increased revenue for state government.

Over the past 20 years, award winners have posted a total of $5.9 billion in added value for Florida taxpayers and businesses. The awards program also recognizes achievements that are particularly beneficial to citizens and the private sector. The program is co-sponsored by Florida TaxWatch, The Florida Council of 100 and the State of Florida.

A list of the Prudential-Davis Award winners from the Attorney General's Office is available here.