2 bills introduced on agency reshuffle

Rep. Andy Davis, R-Little Rock, on Tuesday introduced bills that would designate the Department of Human Services and the Department of the Military as Cabinet-level agencies as part of Gov. Asa Hutchinson's reorganization proposal.

Hutchinson wants to reduce the number of agencies reporting to him from 42 to 15.

In addition to making the Human Services Department Cabinet-level, House Bill 1166 would give it the Civilian Student Training Program, now in the Military Department. The executive head of the Human Services Department would become the secretary of the agency, appointed by the governor under the 55-page bill.

House Bill 1165, in addition to elevating the Military Department, would transfer the Bureau of War Records to the Military Department. The executive head of the Military Department would become its secretary and would be employed by the governor. The bill is 11 pages long.

So far, Davis has introduced nine bills as part of Hutchinson's proposal to reorganize state government. Davis has said he plans to introduce 16 bills to seek comment from the public and lawmakers, then withdraw the bills from further consideration before introducing a consolidated bill of roughly 1,500 pages. Senate Republican leader Bart Hester of Cave Springs is the Senate sponsor of the bills.

-- Michael R. Wickline

A Section on 01/16/2019

Upcoming Events