| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic highlighted the need to modernize government to meet the urgent needs of the community. The pandemic has also highlighted the need for greater flexibility, responsiveness, transparency, and accountability in how government interfaces with and responds to the community. The legislature further finds that many current structures and processes have hindered or challenged agencies in their ability to responsively, promptly, effectively, and efficiently provide the government services that the public demands. Executive branch departments, particularly those at the administrative and division levels, are often hindered in modernizing and realigning their programmatic and staffing structures because of the processes required to effectuate organizational change, collectively known as a "program reorganization" or "reorg". The legislature finds that program reorganization can take two years or more to complete and often is not approved until long after the original intent has lapsed. The legislature found during the response to the pandemic that these processes prevented expeditious staffing and proactive adjustments that were needed to quickly respond to community needs. The legislature finds that time is of the essence to support attempts by the agencies to restructure and realign their programs to quickly and effectively meet the needs of the community. The current economic downturn and budget shortfall facing the State necessitates significantly more flexibility and public accountability. Government programs must reorganize to more effectively manage and maximize the use of scarce resources to address the complex and growing needs of our communities. The purpose of this Act is to establish a two-year reorganization pilot project within the department of health, beginning with the behavioral health services administration, to shift and organize the department's functions, positions, and funding to effectuate an organization that cost-effectively and more efficiently provides needed services to the public. SECTION 2. (a) The department of health shall establish a two-year reorganization pilot project to reorganize the following divisions and offices within the department of health: (1) Behavioral health services administration; (2) Environmental health administration; (3) General administration, including the office of the director of health; and (4) Health resources administration. (b) In reorganizing the four divisions, the department of health shall consult with the department of budget and finance and department of human resources development. (c) The reorganization pilot project shall: (1) Shift and organize the functions, positions, and funding to effectuate an organization that cost-effectively and more efficiently provides needed services to the public; (2) Identify processes to most efficiently and cost-effectively restructure and realign functions, staffing, and funding to meet the needs of the community; and (3) Conduct an expedited reorganization, including consultation with the appropriate bargaining units, with the assistance of the department of human resources development, to address affected employees and maintain, to the extent possible, the employees' functions as reflected in their current positions and current salaries. (d) The reorganization pilot project shall begin with the reorganization of the behavioral health services administration. (e) No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2022, 2023, and 2024, the department of health shall submit a report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, regarding the pilot project. (f) The reorganization pilot project shall end on June 30, 2023. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060; provided that the reorganization of the behavioral health services administration shall begin upon approval of this Act. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic highlighted the need to modernize government to meet the urgent needs of the community. Further, the pandemic has highlighted the need for greater flexibility, responsiveness, transparency, and accountability in how government interfaces with and responds to the community. The legislature also finds that many current structures and processes have hindered or challenged agencies in their ability to responsively, promptly, effectively, and efficiently provide government services that the public demands. Executive branch departments, particularly those at the administrative and division levels, are often hindered in modernizing and realigning their programmatic and staffing structures because of the processes required to effectuate organizational change, collectively known as a "program reorganization" or "reorg". The legislature finds that program reorganization can take two years or more to complete and often is not approved until long after the original intent has lapsed. Further, the legislature found during the response to the pandemic that these processes prevented expeditious staffing and proactive adjustments that were needed to quickly respond to community needs. Finally, the legislature finds that time is of the essence to support attempts of the agencies to restructure and realign their programs to quickly and effectively meet the needs of the community. Further, the current economic downturn and budget shortfall facing the State necessitates significantly more flexibility and public accountability. Government programs must reorganize to more effectively manage and maximize the use of scarce resources to address the complex and growing needs of our communities. The purpose of this Act is to establish a reorganization pilot project within the department of health to shift and organize the department's functions, positions, and funding to effectuate an organization that cost-effectively and more efficiently provides needed services to the public. SECTION 2. (a) The department of health shall establish a two-year reorganization pilot project to reorganize the following divisions and offices within the department of health: (1) Behavioral health services administration; (2) Environmental health administration; (3) General administration, including the office of the director of health; and (4) Health resources administration. (b) In reorganizing the four divisions, the department of health shall consult with the department of budget and finance and department of human resources development. (c) The reorganization pilot project shall: (1) Shift and organize the functions, positions, and funding to effectuate an organization that cost-effectively and more efficiently provides needed services to the public; (2) Identify the processes to most efficiently and cost-effectively restructure and realign functions, staffing, and funding to meet the needs of the community; and (3) Conduct an expedited reorganization, including consultation with the appropriate bargaining units, with the assistance of the department of human resources development, to address affected employees and maintain, to the extent possible, the employees' functions as reflected in their current positions and current salaries. (d) No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2022, 2023, and 2024, the department of health shall submit a report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, regarding the pilot project. (e) The reorganization pilot project shall end on June 30, 2023. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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