HLS 11RS-1106 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 5
Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 50
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION: Requests the secretaries of the Department of Health
and Hospitals and the Department of Children and Family Services to study the
consolidation of the two departments into one department and to present a plan for
such consolidation and related information to the legislature
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To authorize and request the secretaries of the Department of Health and Hospitals and the2
Department of Children and Family Services to study the consolidation of the two3
departments into one department and to present a plan for such consolidation and4
related information to the legislature.5
WHEREAS, Louisiana is facing a budget crisis requiring the offset of a projected6
$1.6 billion revenue shortfall, and the legislature is currently in the process of carrying out7
the difficult task of determining those agencies and programs that must withstand severe8
funding cuts, while considering proposals for major changes in the way certain state9
functions are administered in order to achieve savings; and10
WHEREAS, the governor has called for funding cuts and recommended privatizing11
certain state functions, while seeking ways to maintain key services and continue economic12
development efforts, all of which requires very close scrutiny of all state government13
operations with an eye toward economy and efficiency; and14
WHEREAS, economy and efficiency in state government is one of the main15
objectives of the Executive Reorganization Act, enacted in response to a mandate of the16
Louisiana Constitution of 1974, which provides that its purpose is in part "to create a17
structure for the executive branch of state government which is responsive to the needs of18
the people of this state and which is sufficiently flexible to meet changing human and natural19
conditions; to promote economy and efficiency in the operation and management of state20 HLS 11RS-1106 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 50
Page 2 of 5
government, and to strengthen the executive capacity for effective, efficient, and economic1
administration at all levels...and to eliminate to the fullest practicable extent duplication of2
effort within the executive branch of state government in order to use wisely the funds of the3
state and more conveniently to meet the needs of the citizens of Louisiana which are4
supported by revenues derived from the people and from the natural resources belonging to5
them"; and6
WHEREAS, government reorganization for the purpose of further consolidation of7
government functions and elimination of duplication clearly constitutes one of the most8
obvious, and potentially one of the most effective, ways to support the ongoing work of the9
legislature and the governor in response to the current budget dilemma, and the Constitution10
of Louisiana grants the legislature responsibility for reallocation of offices, agencies, and11
other instrumentalities of the executive branch of state government and their functions,12
powers, duties, and responsibilities within not more than twenty departments; and13
WHEREAS, primary candidates for such reorganization are the Department of14
Health and Hospitals and the Department of Children and Family Services, for these15
departments, which administer the health and social services functions of state government,16
are major bureaucratic structures that serve many of the same clients and have closely17
related responsibilities and related eligibility and funding structures, and in fact the two18
departments were at one time a single larger department that also included the state's19
hospitals.20
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby21
authorize and request the secretaries of the Department of Health and Hospitals and the22
Department of Children and Family Services jointly to prepare a plan for abolition of the two23
departments and the creation of a new consolidated Department of Children, Family, and24
Health Services.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such plan shall have the purposes of promoting26
economy and efficiency in the operation and management of the functions of the state27
relative to health and social services, strengthening the executive capacity of the new28
department for effective, efficient, and economic administration while also improving the29
quality of the functions performed and the programs and services rendered by the new30 HLS 11RS-1106 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 50
Page 3 of 5
department for the state's citizens, and eliminating to the fullest practicable extent1
duplication of effort within health and social services functions of state government.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretaries shall conduct a comprehensive3
study and examination of the organization and operations of the two departments in order4
to develop such plan, and such study shall include but not be limited to the merger of5
functions, abolition of agencies, consolidation of offices, elimination of job positions,6
elimination of duplication of functions, full implementation of an office of management and7
finance and consolidation of its functions, and efficiency and economy in delivery of8
services.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such plan shall include:10
(1) A proposed organizational structure to accomplish the consolidation and11
assignment of the powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, and programs of the two12
departments within the new department and such improved and efficient operation and13
management of the state's health and social services programs and functions as needed to14
best accomplish the purposes of the plan as provided in this Resolution and the purposes of15
the Executive Reorganization Act.16
(2) Provisions for transfer and utilization of positions, personnel, funds, office space,17
facilities, and equipment, and such other detail as is necessary to effectuate the merger of the18
two departments.19
(3) Provisions for the transfer from the two departments to the new department of20
unfinished business, references in laws and documents, employees, property, contractual or21
other obligations, and books and records, and provisions for the effect of the reorganization22
on administrative rules.23
(4) A budget proposal for the consolidated department to implement the proposed24
reorganization plan and related information, including the number and classification of25
personnel broken down by office and program; the amount of total funds to be requested for26
each office and program broken down to reflect the proposed use of such funds; information27
concerning use of vehicles by each office and program and budget requirements therefor;28
information concerning establishment of an office of management and finance for the29
department and consolidation of its functions and operations; information concerning effects30 HLS 11RS-1106 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 50
Page 4 of 5
on personnel requirements and service delivery; and information concerning utilization of1
building space, supplies, and equipment.2
(5) A report of the findings of the secretaries' comprehensive study and examination3
of the organization and operations of the two departments and any other explanatory material4
the secretaries determine to be necessary to explain the plan.5
(6) Proposals for legislation necessary to implement the proposed plan.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretaries shall complete such plan and7
submit it to the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, the8
Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the House Committee on House and9
Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs not10
later than December 31, 2011, and that a copy thereof shall be submitted to the governor and11
to the commissioner of administration.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget,13
the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on14
Senate and Governmental Affairs, individually or jointly, may conduct such hearings as they15
deem appropriate to review the plan and material submitted by the secretaries and that the16
secretaries shall furnish the committees any information they may request concerning17
reorganization of the departments and appear before any of the committees to provide such18
information as any of the committees may request.19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted20
to the Honorable Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana; Paul W. Rainwater, Commissioner21
of Administration; Bruce D. Greenstein, Secretary of the Department of Health and22
Hospitals; and Ruth Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.23
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Harrison HCR No. 50
Abstract: Authorizes and requests the secretaries of the Dept. of Health and Hospitals
(DHH) and the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) jointly to prepare a
plan for abolition of the two departments and the creation of a new consolidated
Dept. of Children, Family, and Health Services. Specifies plan contents. HLS 11RS-1106 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 50
Page 5 of 5
Proposed resolution authorizes and requests the DHH and DCFS secretaries jointly to
prepare a plan for abolition of the two departments and the creation of a new consolidated
Dept. of Children, Family, and Health Services. Provides that the plan's purposes are
promoting economy and efficiency in the operation and management of state health and
social services functions, strengthening the executive capacity of the new department for
effective, efficient, and economic administration while improving the quality of the
functions performed and the programs and services rendered, and eliminating to the fullest
practicable extent duplication of effort within state health and social services functions.
Proposed resolution provides that the two secretaries shall conduct a comprehensive study
of the organization and operations of the two departments, including merger of functions,
abolition of agencies, consolidation of offices, elimination of job positions, elimination of
duplication of functions, full implementation of an office of management and finance and
consolidation of its functions, and efficiency and economy in delivery of services.
Proposed resolution provides that such plan include:
(1)A proposed organizational structure to accomplish the consolidation and assignment
of the powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, and programs of the two
departments within the new department and such improved and efficient operation
and management of the state's health and social services programs and functions as
needed to best accomplish the plan's purposes as stated above and the purposes of
the Executive Reorganization Act.
(2)Provisions for transfer and utilization of positions, personnel, funds, office space,
facilities, and equipment, and other detail necessary for the department merger.
(3)Provisions for transferring, from the two departments to the new department,
unfinished business, references in laws and documents, employees, property,
contractual or other obligations, and books and records, and provisions for the effect
of the reorganization on administrative rules.
(4)A budget proposal and related information for the consolidated department to
implement the reorganization plan, including the number and classification of
personnel by office and program; the amount of total funds by office and program
broken down to reflect the proposed use of such funds; information concerning
vehicle use by each office and program and budget requirements therefor;
information concerning consolidation of operations of the office of management and
finance; information concerning effects on personnel requirements and service
delivery and utilization of building space, supplies, and equipment.
(5)A report of the findings of the secretaries' comprehensive study and examination of
the organization and operations of the two departments and any other explanatory
material the secretaries determine necessary to explain the plan.
(6)Proposals for legislation necessary to implement the proposed plan.
Proposed resolution provides that the secretaries shall complete such plan and submit it to
the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, the Joint Legislative
Committee on the Budget, the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, and
the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs not later than Dec. 31, 2011, and
submit copies thereof to the governor and to the commissioner of administration.
Proposed resolution provides that the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the House
Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Senate and
Governmental Affairs, individually or jointly, may conduct such hearings as they deem
appropriate to review the plan and material submitted and that the secretaries shall furnish
the committees any information they may request concerning reorganization of the
departments and, at the request of any of the committees, appear before them to provide
requested information.