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The Maryland Office of People`s Counsel (OPC), created in 1924, is the oldest utility consumer advocacy office of its kind in the United States. The People`s Counsel is appointed by the Attorney General, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and acts independently of the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Office of Attorney General. OPC is a State of Maryland agency, yet works independently to represent Maryland`s residential consumers of electric, natural gas, telecommunications, private water and certain transportation matters before the PSC, federal regulatory agencies and the courts. Every day OPC`s staff members address issues affecting the cost, quality of service and adequate supply of these utility services. As such OPC`s advocacy touches the lives of every resident of Maryland. OPC functions primarily as a law office, employing a staff of 19, and retains expert consultants to provide technical assistance and expert testimony. These consultants are highly qualified accounting, engineering and economic experts who provide technical assistance, prepare reports and appear as expert witnesses before the PSC and federal agencies. These experts are absolutely critical to OPC`s ability to represent consumers. Because it is a state agency, funding for OPC is included in the state budget proposed by the Governor and approved by the General Assembly. However, the State`s General Fund is fully reimbursed for OPC`s expenses from revenue collected in the Public Utility Regulation Fund. These revenues are collected from all regulated utility companies and licensed energy suppliers.
The Hawaii State Ethics Commission`s mission is to preserve the public`s confidence in our government by promoting high ethical standards among public servants.
Kansas Office of Information Technology Services was created under Governor Sam Brownback. Previously, OITS was known as the Division of Information Systems and Communication (DISC) and was a division of the Kansas Department of Administration. OITS is an independent agency, but the two agencies still maintain close operational relationships in several areas because the transition was never completed.
Unite Here Health is a multi-employer Taft-Hartley Trust Fund governed by a Board of Trustees composed of union and employer representatives. Our mission is to provide health benefits that offer high-quality, affordable healthcare to our participants at better value with better service than is otherwise available in the market. We believe our success depends on innovation and on engaging our participants. For several decades, Unite Here Health has served Unite Here! union workers in the hospitality, food service and gaming industries. Our benefits and innovative programs are designed to meet the triple aim of better care, better health, and lower costs while empowering our participants to better manage their health and healthcare.
The National Indian Gaming Commission is an independent federal regulatory agency within the Department of the Interior and is committed to the prompt and efficient regulation of the Indian gaming industry, which spans more than 420 gaming establishments, associated with nearly 240 tribes across 28 states. Congress established the agency through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. The Commission`s primary mission is to regulate gaming activities on Indian lands; to ensure that Indian tribes are the primary beneficiaries of gaming revenue; and to assure that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly by both operators and players. To achieve these goals, the Commission provides technical assistance and training to tribes and tribal regulators; conduct audits and background investigations; review and approve Tribal gaming ordinances and when necessary undertakes enforcement actions, including the issuance of violation, assessment of civil fines, and/or issuance of closure orders.