Jun. 19, 2018
HARRISBURG – In continuing efforts to streamline state government so it works more efficiently and cost effectively for taxpayers, the House State Government Committee on Tuesday approved legislation by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) to merge the Budget Office, the Department of General Services, the Office of Administration and the governor’s Office of Policy and Planning into one agency.
The consolidated office would be known as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). To fulfill its important role and the duties of the merged agencies, OMB would be comprised of bureaus which include the:
• Bureau of Budget and Financial Management
• Bureau of Planning and Policy
• Bureau of State Facilities and Maintenance
• Bureau of Procurement
• Bureau of Human Resources
• Bureau of Information Technology
• Governor’s Office of Transformation, Innovation, Management and Efficiency (GO TIME)
“My
House Bill 2101 is just part of a six-bill package to reinvent and modernize our state agencies,” Grove said. “Particularly, my legislation would produce an agency proven to work. This model is used by the federal government and 29 states to improve the coordination and management of governance.”
In addition to Grove’s legislation, the four other bills part of the overall inclusive package aimed at reinventing government are:
•
House Bill 2102, which would merge the Department of Labor and Industry with functions from the Department of Community and Economic Development and Department of State to put economic development programs under the newly created Department of Business, Tourism and Workforce Development. This would improve coordination and foster greater private-sector job growth, allowing Pennsylvania to better compete in a global economy.
•
House Bill 2103, which would create the Department of Local Government and Community Affairs, which would be comprised of powers and authorities from the Department of State and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The department would oversee and assist counties with managing elections and would also handle local government grant and tax credit programs handled by DCED.
•
House Bill 2104, which would merge the Department of Health with the Department of Human Services to create the Department of Health and Human Services. The unification would present a significant opportunity to streamline bureaucracy and break down the silos preventing agencies from serving residents most effectively to achieve savings for taxpayers while improving the delivery of services to Pennsylvanians.
•
House Bill 2105, which is a housecleaning measure to eliminate state boards and commissions which have been underutilized or have become outdated and never were repealed. These boards or commissions have failed to meet for years and, in most cases, no longer issue reports.
•
House Bill 2115, which would improve services for job seekers and prospective employers, while providing better value for the taxpayers who fund these programs. The programs comprising the state’s workforce system under the Department of Labor and Industry, the DCED and the Department of Human Services would be consolidated under the direction of one state agency.
In addition to Grove’s House Bill 2101, House Bills 2102, 2103 and 2104 were approved by the House State Government Committee. The bills now go to the full House for consideration.
Representative Seth Grove
196th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepGrove.com /
Facebook.com/RepSethGrove