Senate Majority Leader Appoints Majority Whip To Head Restructuring Subcommittee
Columbia, SC – September 3, 2009 – South Carolina Senate Majority Leader and Medical Affairs Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) today announced his plan to move three big restructuring bills aimed at improving the efficiency of state government. Senator Peeler has appointed Senate Majority Whip Danny Verdin (R-Laurens) to chair a subcommittee examining restructuring of five health agencies.
The Medical Affairs subcommittee will take up bills restructuring the Department of Health & Environmental Control and the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, as well as a bill merging the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and the Continuum of Care to form a new Department of Behavioral Health Services. Members of the subcommittee will include Senators Danny Verdin, David Thomas (R-Greenville), Ray Cleary (R-Georgetown), Darrell Jackson (D-Richland), and Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg).
“I’ve appointed these senators to serve on the subcommittee because of their leadership in health care issues”, Senator Peeler said. “I want their political DNA to be on health care restructuring before the bills are passed out of the Medical Affairs Committee.”
The subcommittee will begin its work this Fall.
Legislation Details:
S. 384 – Sen. Leventis and Sen. Courson
Establishes DHEC as a cabinet agency with a Secretary of Health and Environmental Control appointed by the Governor.
Creates two boards under the Secretary: a Board of Health and a Board of Environmental Control. Each board consists of 3 members appointed by the Governor
H. 3199 – Rep. Jim Harrison
Creates a Department of Behavioral Health Services – a cabinet level agency. The new agency merges the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and the Continuum of Care.
H. 3314 – Rep. Jim Harrison
Establishes the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs as a cabinet agency with a Secretary appointment by the Governor. The current DDSN Board becomes an advisory board.
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