Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she will sign an executive order reorganizing boards, councils, and committees, to cut red tape and streamline government. The order will work to minimize overlap and redundancy in 26 of the more than 250 current boards. According to the governor, many boards no longer serve their original purpose, with some having fulfilled their purpose, unnecessarily expanded their scope, or duplicated the work of other boards.
Some of the changes include:
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- Department of Health and Human Services – Theorder will reduce certain seats on the Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission representing duplicative The board will maintain the perspectives of the public and organizations that focus on lead exposure advocacy.
- Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – The Growing Michigan Together Council willsunset because its mandate has been fulfilled. This group has submitted its reports and completed all
- Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs – The Residential Builders’ andMaintenance and Alteration Contractors’ Board will require possession of a general contracting license, rather than a specified trade license. This change allows for more flexibility and better representation as any licensee under the board may now serve.
- Department of Technology, Management, and Budget – The Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board will adjust the “first-class school district” language to “largest in the state,” as no school district meets the technical definition of a first-class district. This change will lead to better representation in policymaking decisionsregarding Michigan’s school districts.
- Department of Transportation – The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Taskforce will sunset as drone technology has advanced past the practical purpose of this board. Instead, the department will assume policy responsibilities for this sector.
- Department of Treasury – Term limitswill be placed on the chair and vice chair seats of the Michigan Education Trust Board of Directors. This corrects an unnecessary hierarchy within the board, ensuring the board perspectives are subject to the same terms.
For more information and a full list of the changes, please click here.
