THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WANSACZ, BURNS, CUTLER, EVERETT, GALLOWAY, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, MAHONEY, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MIRABITO, MURPHY, MURT, MUSTIO, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, K. SMITH, STABACK, R. TAYLOR AND WALKO, MARCH 23, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 23, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to

conduct a study of the logistics and cost savings associated

with merging the duties of the Department of Conservation and

Natural Resources with the Department of Environmental

Protection, as well as the logistics and cost savings

associated with reassigning the duties of the Department of

Health to the Department of Labor and Industry and the

Department of Environmental Protection.

WHEREAS, As Governor Rendell noted in his 2009 budget

address, the economic crisis we currently confront forces us to

consider good ideas from every possible source, and there is no

corner on the marketplace of ideas when it comes to saving

taxpayer dollars and improving the productivity and

responsiveness of every level of government; and

WHEREAS, In an effort to face this crisis head on, Governor

Rendell asked local governments and school districts to embrace

initiatives, including merger and consolidation, that will

improve the level of services we deliver to the public and also

dramatically reduce the cost of government; and

WHEREAS, State government has a responsibility to lead by

example and can do so by reviewing our own operations and

identifying ways in which the cost of providing State government

services can be significantly reduced if certain cabinet level

departments join forces to share a host of administrative

services; and

WHEREAS, It seems prudent to study how best to rightsize

various State agencies and stop spending taxpayers' funds on

redundant administrative costs, starting with the Department of

Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Health;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the

Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of

the logistics and cost savings associated with merging the

duties of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

with the Department of Environmental Protection into one State

agency; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the

Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of

the logistics and cost savings associated with reassigning the

duties of the Department of Health among the various State

agencies with a focus on the Department of Labor and Industry

and the Department of Environmental Protection; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings, along with

recommendations as appropriate, which shall be submitted to the

House of Representatives within six months of adoption of this

resolution.