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Legislation To Consolidate Government Research Agencies Approved By Senate Committee
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The Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee Wednesday reported out Senate Bill 1080 (Greenleaf-R-Montgomery) which would consolidate four legislative service agencies that provide research services into one centralized bicameral, bipartisan research agency.
A centralized research office would create efficiencies that will save the Commonwealth a considerable amount of money. The combined staff from the various agencies will pull together a wide variety of talents that would better serve the legislature.
The four agencies include: the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, the Joint State Government Commission, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
In recent years, the budgets for these agencies have been significantly reduced. It is very likely that these agencies will face substantial reductions once again this year. Despite these reductions and the resulting loss of staff, these agencies continue to do admirable work.
The new agency will be called the Pennsylvania Office for Research and Public Policy and will be comprised of four units representing the four consolidated agencies.
"By bringing the research agencies under one roof, we are bound to realize a great cost savings to the Commonwealth," said Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, the bill's prime sponsor. "The legislature would then have better access to this talented group of professionals. The agencies have enabled critical laws for many decades, and I believe that a consolidation will greatly enhance the law making process in Pennsylvania."
The bill is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
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3/12/2012 |
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