Next step for Health Department reorganization

Gov. Chris Christie’s reorganization of the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Human Services, announced in last week’s budget address, will move forward unless the Legislature goes through an official rejection process.

Gov. Chris Christie’s reorganization of the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Human Services, announced in last week’s budget address, will move forward unless the Legislature goes through an official rejection process.

The reorganization, which moves all senior-related services to the Department of Human Services and several major hospital funding pools to the Health Department, is expected to be implemented through an executive reorganization plan, according to the Governor’s Office.

In 2011, Christie moved all affordable housing functions under the direction of the Department of Community Affairs through an executive reorganization, essentially eliminating the Council on Affordable Housing. Once the plan was signed by the governor, the Legislature had 60 days to overturn the order, but failed to do so.

Kevin Roberts, spokesman for the Governor’s Office, said in an e-mail that no time table has been set for formally issuing the executive reorganization plan for the two departments.