15.2-964 - Organization of local human services activities; authorization of reorganization by Governor.
§ 15.2-964. Organization of local human services activities; authorization ofreorganization by Governor.
A. Any city or county may prepare and submit to the Governor a plan toreorganize the governmental structures or administrative procedures andsystems of human resources agencies should provisions of law or the rules,regulations and standards of any state agency prohibit or restrict theimplementation of such a reorganization. The plan shall set forth theproposed reorganization and the provisions of law or the rules, regulationsor standards that prohibit or restrict the implementation of such proposedreorganization.
B. The Governor shall prepare, and provide to those counties and cities whichrequest them, guidelines for the preparation and submission to him ofreorganization plans by a city or county. The Governor may consider onlythose reorganization plans adopted by resolution of the governing body of thecity or county applying for approval to reorganize its human servicesagencies.
C. The several state boards and commissions which are empowered to promulgaterules, regulations and guidelines affecting the organization oradministration of local human service agencies are hereby authorized tomodify their respective rules, regulations and guidelines at the direction ofthe Governor in furtherance of any reorganization plan approved by him.
D. If a provision or provisions of law prohibit or restrict theimplementation of all or part of such reorganization plan the Governor shalltransmit such plan or such parts of such plan affected by such laws to eachHouse of the General Assembly at least forty-five days prior to thecommencement of a regular or special session of the General Assembly. Suchplan or portions of such plan so transmitted by the Governor under thissection shall not become effective unless it is introduced by bill andenacted into law.
E. The plan or such portions of the plan transmitted by the Governor to theGeneral Assembly shall set forth: (i) the provision or provisions of law thatprohibit or restrict the implementation of such plan or parts of such plan;(ii) the changes in governmental structure or administrative procedure systemof the human resources agencies affected; and (iii) the anticipated effectsof such changes upon the efficiency and effectiveness of the agenciesaffected.
F. Any reorganization authorized under the provision of this section shall beimplemented within appropriations or other funds which may be made availableto the city or county requesting such reorganization approval.
G. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to permit a city or county toeliminate the provision of any service required by law or to reduce the levelof service below any level required by law.
H. The localities shall be required to maintain financial and statisticalrecords in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Governor so as toallow responsible state agencies to review records and determine costs forprograms for which the agency is responsible.
I. For the purposes of this section the term "human resource agencies"means agencies which deliver social, employment, health, mental health andmental retardation, rehabilitation, nursing, information and referralservice, and such other related services.
(1978, c. 832, § 15.1-36.2; 1983, c. 352; 1997, c. 587.)