Human Services Center To Get State Review

Bob Mercer reported in the Aberdeen American News today that the Human Services Center in Yankton will receive a legislative review:

PIERRE — One of state government’s largest institutions won’t fall through the crack and go without a legislative review after all.

The Legislature’s Executive Board decided today that the Human Services Center at Yankton should be part of the special study that a legislative panel will conduct this summer regarding the state Department of Human Services.

Human Services Center is no longer part of the department.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard transferred oversight of the center to the Department of Social Services effective last month as part of his official reorganization of various pieces of state government.

The Legislature reviewed Social Services in 2003 as one of the first in what became a gradual, decade-long review of all major state departments and agencies.

The Department of Human Services, the Bureau of Finance and Management and the Department of Health are yet to be done before the review cycle starts again.

The Human Services Center has a $41 million budget and approximately 500 employees.

Rep. Marc Feinstein, D-Sioux Falls, suggested during the Executive Board’s meeting today that the Human Services Center be made part of the review this year, and Rep. Larry Lucas, D-Mission, picked up on the thought.

They didn’t need to work to convince the board’s chairman, Rep. Chuck Turbiville, R-Deadwood. “I think it’s an excellent idea,” he said.

Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton, had already been selected by the board to serve as committee chairman for the Department of Human Services review.