JUNEAU (AP) - The governor sent a one-sentence letter to legislative leaders last week, notifying lawmakers that he has withdrawn his request to split the Department of Health and Social Services into two departments.
Multiple groups had questioned the split, including tribal organizations, advocates for foster children and the largest state employee union. And a lawyer for the Legislature said portions of the executive order that would have split the department appeared to conflict with state law and faced potential legal challenges, according to an Alaska public radio report March 11.
Opposition to the split had been growing, with the House members considering a resolution that would have blocked the order. The governor had proposed dividing the department into a Department of Health and a Department of Family Services. Reorganizing the services into two departments would have boosted efficiency, he said.
The Department of Health and Social Services is the state’s largest agency. It oversees Medicaid and programs as varied as the Office of Children’s Services, Pioneer Homes and public assistance.
Dunleavy’s executive order would have gone into effect Saturday unless rejected by a joint session of the Legislature.
Reader Comments(0)