Governor Perdue Creates Commission on Restructuring the Department of Human Resources

Committee to make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by July 2008

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order today creating a commission that will make recommendations on restructuring the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR).  The commission will make its recommendations in a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 2, 2008.

“We must ensure that we are not just getting the best possible value for our investment in DHR – but that we are also providing the best possible service for the people of Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “That’s why today I have signed an executive order creating a commission to make recommendations on restructuring DHR, to make sure Georgians receive the most efficient service at the least cost to taxpayers.”

The commission will recommend a plan to restructure DHR.  Such a recommendation may include combining, consolidating or separating divisions within DHR as well as the Department of Community Health (DCH) and the State Personnel Administration (SPA).

Governor Perdue’s executive order creates a commission of nine members: two to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, two by the Speaker of the House and five by the Governor.  Governor Perdue announced his five appointees to the commission today.  Jim Lientz, Chief Operating Officer for Governor Perdue will chair the commission.    The other four appointees are:

• Tommy Hills, Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Governor

• Trey Childress, Director, Office of Planning and Budget

• Hannah Heck, Director of Policy, Office of the Governor

• Josh Belinfante, Deputy Executive Counsel, Office of the Governor

In the past three years, several legislative study committees have looked at Georgia’s delivery of health and human services, including committees chaired by House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin and Representative Donna Sheldon. 

"The members of the General Assembly take seriously our charge to ensure that state government is responsive to the needs of Georgians in both a compassionate and cost-effective way," said Chairman Ben Harbin.  "We look forward to working with Governor Perdue in this effort to see that DHR evolves to better fulfill its mission."

“We know that such changes in the framework of state government are necessary from time to time to keep our agencies as effective as possible,” said Senator Jack Hill, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  “This isn’t a change we take lightly and we’re committed to doing this the right way with expert input and creative solutions.” 

DHR is the state’s human services agency.  It was created in 1972 by the General Assembly and is comprised of four divisions:  Aging Services; Public Health; Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases; and Family and Children Services.  DHR employs 19,000 people and has an annual yearly budget of approximately $2.8 billion.

The text of the executive order is below:

Whereas:                   The Georgia General Assembly created the Department of Human Resources in 1972; and

Whereas:                   The Department of Human Resources currently serves Georgians through four divisions: (1) Aging Services; (2) Public Health; (3) Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases; and (4) Family and Children Services; and

Whereas:                   Through the four divisions, the Department of Human Resources touches the lives of all Georgians by providing programs that ensure their health and welfare;  DHR manages programs that control the spread of disease, enable older people to live at home longer, prevent children from developing lifelong disabilities, protect children from abuse and neglect, provide families with a variety of financial and non-financial supports, train single parents to find and hold jobs, and help people with mental or physical disabilities live and work in their communities; and

Whereas:                   The Department of Human Resources has made great strides in various areas, including customer service, as evidenced by the awarding of the Governor's Customer Service Agency of the Year Award; and

Whereas:                    Access to quality state services, health care and a modern public health infrastructure are vital to the citizens of the State of Georgia; and

Whereas:                   Efficiencies, synergies and improvements could be realized by examining the missions of the various divisions within the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Community Health and State Personnel Administration; and 

Whereas:                   I wish to collaborate with members of the General Assembly and collectively build upon the work of two legislative study committees that reviewed the duties of the Department of Human Resources and made recommendations for reform; and

Whereas:                    I believe that a review of the duties of the Department of Human Resources is warranted and should include consideration of:

• The fiscal and substantive interrelation between the divisions within the Department of Human Resources;
• Whether Georgians are best served with the divisions remaining in the Department of Human Resources, within another agency of state government or as a stand-alone agency or agencies; and
• Means to best integrate health delivery and prevention services within the State of Georgia.

Now, Therefore, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, It Is Hereby

Ordered:                    That a Health and Human Resources Commission be created to undertake a study of the issues addressed in this Executive Order or related thereto.  The Commission shall, as needed, seek the advice and counsel of Georgia’s agencies, constituencies, and experts, including, but not limited to: the Commissioners of the Department of Human Resources; the Department of Community Health; the State Personnel Administration; and the division directors within the Department of Human Resources.                               

It is further

Ordered:                    That the Commission shall conduct meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Executive Order.  The Commission is further authorized to retain the services of individuals or firms as determined appropriate by the Commission, as well as to call any party to testify and to require the attendance of witnesses and the production of non-confidential books, records and papers.  The Georgia Department of Human Resources shall serve in an administrative capacity to assist the Commission.

It is further

Ordered:                    That the Commission be composed of nine members: two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;  four persons with knowledge of the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Community Health and the State Personnel Administration, appointed by the Governor; and chair of the Commission, to be appointed by the Governor.  It is further

Ordered:                    That the Commission recommend (1) a plan to restructure the Georgia Department of Human Resources to provide the most efficient and effective delivery of services available;  (2) recommend a structure that emphasizes the importance of a coordinated and integrated health delivery and prevention services; (3) a structure that will provide the best means to protect Georgia’s children; (4) whether to combine, consolidate or separate divisions within at least the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the Department of Community Health and State Personnel Administration.  The Commission shall make a report to the General Assembly and the Office of Governor on or before July 2, 2008.  The Commission shall stand abolished on December 3, 2008.

This 4^th day of February, 2008.

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