Gregoire announces agency consolidation plan

The governor this morning announced a plan to consolidate several agencies into existing or new agencies. The administration will ask the Legislature to approve the plan, along with language protecting your bargaining unit rights and contract protections.

Here’s what the governor proposed:

• A new Department of Enterprise Services, to include all or parts of the current Department of Information Services, Department of General Administration, the State Printer, the Department of Personnel and Office of Financial Management.
• Office of Civil Rights to include the current Human Rights Commission, the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises and the commissions on African-American Affairs, Hispanic Affairs and Asian Pacific-American Affairs.
• The Department of Natural Resources would now include the Department of Archaeology and Historical Preservation.
• A new Department of Conservation and Recreation would include the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Recreation and Conservation Office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and law enforcement duties now performed by the Department of Natural Resources.
• The Department of Ecology would now include the Columbia River Gorge Commission, the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency and the Reclaimed Water Program now in the Department of Health.
• The Department of Agriculture would now include the State Conservation Commission.

She said she would also eliminate 36 boards and commissions and 351 gubernatorial appointments.

The consolidations would yield $30 million and a cut of 125 positions.

“We must build a new state government,” the governor said.

READ PLAN HERE