Gov. Bob McDonnell wants to eliminate two state agencies and merge seven others in a cost-savings plan that will net the state $2 million a year.
Under the Government Reorganization Plan submitted Tuesday to the General Assembly, McDonnell proposes eliminating 19 boards and commissions while recommending that another 23 boards be merged into 11. The state will also stop regulating three industries — hair braiders, mold inspectors and remediators, and interior designers.
The Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority and the Board of Towing and Recovery Operators will cease to exist while the Department of Rehabilitative Services will merge with the Virginia Department for the Aging and the Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Also on the chopping block is the Virginia Public Broadcasting Board, a 15-member panel that oversees funding for publicly owned TV and radio stations. McDonnell has frequently targeted public broadcasting in past budgets and dissolving the board could be another attempt to kill it.
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McDonnell proposes merging the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority into one body.
Overall, McDonnell said the cuts “will save taxpayer dollars and reduce the size of government, while still ensuring that the commonwealth provides the high quality core services our citizens expect and deserve.”
The Government Reorganization Plan stems from a report put out Nov. 21 by the Government Reform & Restructuring Commission.
Below is a full list of the agencies and boards McDonnell has proposed eliminating or merging.
2 Agencies Eliminated
· Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority
· Board of Towing and Recovery Operators
7 Agencies Merged into Others
· Department of Rehabilitative Services with the Virginia Department for the Aging and the Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
· Human Rights Council with the Office of the Attorney General
· Department of Correctional Education with the Department of Juvenile Justice and Department of Corrections
· Department of Employment Dispute Resolution with the Department of Human Resource Management
· Virginia War Memorial into the Department of Veterans Services
· Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation into the Chippokes Plantation State Park
19 Boards and Commissions Eliminated
· Commonwealth Competition Council
· Interagency Dispute Resolution Council
· Virginia Public Buildings Board
· Virginia Council on Human Resources
· Advisory Council to the Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact
· Small Business Advisory Board
· Board of Surface Mining Review
· Board of Mineral Mining Examiners
· Virginia Public Broadcasting Board
· Hemophilia Advisory Board
· Sewage Handling and Disposal Appeal Review Board
· Child Day Care Council
· Boating Advisory Committee
· Virginia Council On Indians
· Litter Control and Recycling Advisory Board
· Foundation for Virginia’s Natural Resources
· Board for Correctional Education
· Virginia Juvenile Enterprise Committee
· Board on Transportation Safety
23 Boards and Commissions Merged to form 11 Boards or Commissions
· Reforestation of Timberlands Board into the Board of Forestry
· Seed Potato Board and the Potato Board
· Bright Flue-Cured Tobacco Board and the Dark-Fired Tobacco Board into a single Tobacco Board
· Pesticide Control Board into the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services
· Board for Opticians and the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists
· Board for Geology with the Board for Professional Social Scientists and Wetlands Professions
· Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board with the Commonwealth Council on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission
· Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect with the Family and Children’s Trust Fund
· Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation Board of Trustees into the Board of Conservation and Recreation
· Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
· Virginia Scenic River Board into the Board of Conservation and Recreation
4 Functions Moved
· Office of Consumer Affairs into the Office of the Attorney General
· Virginia Office of Environmental Education from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Department of Conservation and Recreation
· Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Permitting from the Department of Conservation and Recreation to the Department of Environmental Quality
· Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
