TRENTON – The extensive reorganization of several state departments was signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie today.
S2065/A3097: This moves the Sports & Exposition Authority from the Department of Community Affairs to the Department of State.
S2070/A3101: This moves the Division on Women from DCA to the Department of Children and Families.
S2072/A3104: This reorganizes the Department of Health and Senior Services as the Department of Health, establishes a Division of Aging Services in the Department of Human Services and transfers certain services and program for senior citizens from DHSS to the new Division of Aging Services in DHS. This bill also passed the Assembly Monday.
Christie said he wants to integrate and streamline tourism and promotion activities through the expanded role of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.
Regarding the shift with the Sports & Expo authority, “Our splintered patchwork of tourism promotion programs inside and outside of government have failed to deliver the cohesive, well-oiled approach we need to attract visitors and tourism dollars through a strategic and long-term vision,” Christie said in a release. “It is a natural fit to combine these agencies and resources in such a commonsense way to compete with other states and properly showcase what New Jersey has to offer, from Atlantic City to the Jersey Shore to the Highlands.”
Regarding S2070, the administration wants to make Children and Families the go-to department for all families with children with developmental disabilities, offering them a full range of services inside of a single agency.
The bill renames the Division of Youth and Family Services as the Division of Child Protection and Permanency; the Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships as the Division of Family and Community Partnerships; and the Division of Child Behavioral Health Services as the Division of Children’s System Care.
Regarding S2072, it also transfers the Graduate Medical Education and Hospital Relief Subsidy Fund programs from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Health, and the department will continue to license and inspect all health care facilities, provide consumer report cards on health care quality, ensure the safety of food, monitor communicable diseases and respond to public health emergencies.
