PRESS RELEASE

 For immediate release
Contact:  Thuy Nguyen (802-828-2148)
November 8, 1999

Vermont Public Service Awards to be held in Rutland County

Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz will honor local officials of Rutland County at the Vermont Public Service Awards on Wednesday, November 17, 1999. The ceremony will honor over 150 local officials who have served their communities for twenty or more years. Over one hundred people including honorees, friends, family and other local officials are expected to attend. The ceremony will begin with presentations by members of the Civil Air Patrol Rutland Squadron - Cadet Color Guard Team. Keynote speeches by Secretary Markowitz and the Honorable Robert Stafford, will follow the opening presentations. The ceremony will take place at the Fine Arts Theatre Auditorium at Castleton State College in Castleton at 7:00 PM. The event is open to the public. For further information, please call 1-800-439-8683.

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PRESS RELEASE

 For immediate release
Contact:  Thuy Nguyen (802-828-2148)
November 23, 1999

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Secretary of State Reports Backlog Improved
One Year Out, Markowitz Reports on Licensing Case Backlog

Montpelier. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz today released the Office of Professional Regulation's annual report which shows that the office has reduce the number of its oldest cases by more than half, and which shows a continued improvement in the overall backlog of professional licensing complaints.

According to Secretary Markowitz, "The backlog of complaints against licensed professionals is not just numbers. It is about making government work for the people it is supposed to serve. There is nothing that makes people lose faith in our democracy more than government that is indifferent to its citizens. Vermonters who come to our office seeking a redress of their grievances should not expect a guaranteed outcome, but it is, indeed, reasonable for them to expect some outcome within a reasonable period of time. That is why I have made speedy resolution of licensing complaints a priority of my administration."

Shortly after Secretary Markowitz took office she took three steps to reduce the backlog of licensing complaints and to ensure timely resolution of new complaints:

1. Implemented time frames and goals for the investigation and resolution of cases, ensuring that everyone involved was regularly updated on the status of the case.

2. Formalized procedures for hearings before the boards, ensuring that cases and participants are better prepared.

3. Making resolution of older cases a priority.

Secretary Markowitz said, "I am proud to report that because of the hard work of the staff and with the support of the attorney general’s office, we have reduced the number of cases that are over two years old by more than half. In July 1998 there were 67 cases that were over two years old. We now have only 21 cases on our docket that are over two years old. This year our overall backlog has improved by 20%. We began with 273 cases in July 1998, and we brought this number down to 239 cases by July 1999."

Secretary Markowitz said "During my campaign I promised the people of Vermont that I would do something about the backlog of professional conduct complaints in our office of professional regulation, and that I would particularly focus on those cases that had been lingering for more than two years. We still have work to do, but I am proud of how much the Boards, Tom Lehner and our staff have accomplished during my first year in office"

The Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation oversees 39 professions, issuing licenses, establishing rules and hearing and determining the merits of complaints of unprofessional conduct. These professions include, amongst others, realtors, nurses, architects, accountants, cosmetologists, mental health professionals, dentists, physical therapists and funeral home directors.

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