Release – House’s DOA Plan: Conservative & Accountable Reform

Eliminates B&CB, Dissolves Board into 3 Agencies, Cuts Gov’t Waste, Governor Given Full Executive Authority, AAA Credit Rating Protected

****Compare: House DOA chart here & Senate 10 government agency chart here****

(Columbia, SC) – Today, in a bill back from a year-long debate in the Senate, the House advanced the most comprehensive reform plan yet by amending its Department of Administration bill (H. 3066).  Since 2008, this is the 4^th restructuring measure to pass the House and follows the Senate’s 1^st time ever acting on DOA Reform earlier this year.  In the most comprehensive restructuring proposal ever put forward, the House protects taxpayers by focusing on good government solutions that:

• Totally eliminates the Budget & Control Board (B&CB)
• Protects SC’s AAA Credit Rating
• Streamlines operations & increases efficiencies by cutting government waste

• Cuts 10% of old B&CB workforce by eliminating 147 vacant Full Time Equivalent positions (FTEs)
• Governor given full Executive Authority & responsible governance maintained:
  • 90% of Funds & 82% of FTEs into Governor’s “Dept. of Administration”
  • 3% of Funds & 7% of FTEs into “Contracts & Accountability Authority”
  • 3% of Funds & 5% of FTEs into “Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Office”
  • 4% of Funds & 6% of FTEs into existing agencies to strengthen services

House Speaker Bobby Harrell commented on the House’s DOA Reform Plan:

“Totally eliminating the B&CB and placing the bulk of its funded authority – 90% of the old Board – directly under the Governor, the House’s plan represents the conservative restructuring reforms and taxpayer protections South Carolina needs to operate more efficiently.

“For over 5 years now, the House has not only talked about good government restructuring reforms, we’ve consistently passed legislation to enact conservative change – this latest, and most comprehensive, plan being the fourth DOA reform measure to pass the House.

“Under the House’s restructuring plan, taxpayers are protected with strong new accountability measures – the Governor will fully control administrative Executive authority, waste will be eliminated, agencies streamlined and strong conservative fiscal policies will ensure that South Carolina remains one of only 15 AAA rated states. 

“Totally and truly eliminating the B&CB while cutting 10% in government waste, this plan is more streamlined and gives the Governor much more direct authority than the Senate’s proposal to create 10 government agencies.  The House’s conservative approach to reform will make state government more accountable, transparent and much smaller than the Senate’s plan which creates 3-times as many new agencies.”

****Compare: House DOA chart here & Senate 10 government agency chart here****

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Process Notes: The House’s DOA Plan was amended to the Senate’s version of H. 3066 adopted earlier this session – the initial bill first passed the House over a year ago.  The House-amended bill now goes back to the Senate for a concurrence or non-concurrence vote.  If the Senate concurs, the bill will be sent to the Governor’s desk.  If the Senate non-concurs, a joint House/Senate Conference Committee will meet to work out differences in the two plans. 

2013 House DOA Restructuring Plan