Senate Bill No. 51
(By Senators Minear, Boley, Buckalew and Dugan)
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[Introduced January 18, 1995; referred to the Committee
on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on
Finance.]
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A BILL to amend chapter five-f of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article one-a, relating to
abolishing the offices of secretaries of the executive
departments.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter five-f of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by
adding thereto a new article, designated article one-a, to read
as follows:
ARTICLE 1A. OFFICES OF SECRETARIES ABOLISHED.
§5F-1A-1. Legislative findings and declarations.
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the reorganization of the executive branch of state government under
the provisions of article one of this chapter that created the
offices of secretary of executive departments has not produced
the expected results of:
(1) Promoting the execution of the laws, the more effective
management of the executive branch and of its agencies, boards
and functions and the expeditious administration of the public
business;
(2) Reducing expenditures and promoting the economy to the
fullest extent consistent with the efficient operation of state
government;
(3) Increasing the efficiency of the operations of state
government to the fullest extent practicable;
(4) Grouping, coordinating and consolidating agencies and
functions of state government, as nearly as may be, according to
purposes;
(5) Eliminating duplication of effort;
(6) Providing for appropriate legislative oversight as
mandated in the constitution of this state; and
(7) Providing for a spirit of cooperation and unity between
the executive and legislative branches in addressing and developing solutions to the problems facing the state.
(b) Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of law to
the contrary, the offices of secretary of executive departments,
created by section two, article one of this chapter are hereby
abolished.
(c) It is suggested and highly recommended that the
administration of the executive departments be returned to the
same configuration and department heads that existed before the
super secretary reorganization.
§5F-1A-2. Recommendations for further reorganization.
The governor shall submit to the Legislature on or before
the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-six,
a report setting forth the reorganization implemented by
executive action pursuant to this chapter and any recommendations
for further reorganization and replacement of the offices of
secretary requiring legislative action and drafts of recommended
legislation to implement the reorganization requiring legislative
action.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the offices
of secretaries of executive departments and return the
responsibility of administration of the executive departments to the same configuration that existed before the super secretary
reorganization.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.