This report reviews progress made in executive branch reorganization per House Bill 659, 1989 Regular Session; identifies possible corrections needed in the original legislation; and provides a point of reference for the PEER Committee’s second review required in 1991.
Preliminary analysis of the reorganization costs and savings data submitted by the Department of Finance and Administration shows a net cost to the state of $52,745.66 as of October 1, 1989.
As of October 1, 1989, the primary transition effort has been on bringing the agencies involved into compliance with the organizational requirements of the law, and this basic aspect has been handled well. However, PEER has seen little persuasive evidence that the reorganization will save state government any appreciable amount of money or that it will improve service structures.
Three technical problems were identified in the implementation of H. B. 659. These problems included the inadequacy of the common organizational nomenclature section to the needs of state government, failure to address conflicts between the powers and duties of the Human Services Executive Director and the powers and duties of the State Board of Human Services, and the failure to clearly transfer certain federal-state programs to the Department of Public Safety. PEER has provided draft legislation to address these problems.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.