State Legislature Considers Creating New Department

State lawmakers are trying to iron out what budget cuts to make. They’re also considering a plan to create a new state department for intellectually disabled Tennesseans.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities is currently housed in the Department of Finance and Administration. Making it a free-standing department means a seat on the governor’s cabinet.

Dreseden’s Mark Maddox sponsored the measure in the House of Representatives.

“Everyone we talked to were in favor of doing this. I think it’s a good move. I think it will help protect some folks who need our protection.”

Correction: The original version of this story said the change would cost , an extra $560,000 per year primarily to fund nine positions. The fiscal note has been modified since it was first submitted and suggests there would be no additional cost to the state.

Web Extra:

Here’s a link to the revised fiscal note.

In the early 1990’s a citizens group sued the state, saying services weren’t being delivered at Arlington Development Center. During the federal trial, the Division of Mental Retardation was taken away from the Department of Mental Health and put into the Department of Finance and Administration, for closer control by the governor’s office.

The state Senate General Welfare Committee recommended it become its own department in early April. It then sat idle in the Senate’s Finance Committee until sponsor Randy McNally, who is the chair of Senate Finance, called it up on Wednesday.

The House version passed 89-0 on May 20.

The new provision would take away “mental disabilities” from the Department of Mental Health’s title.
The duties of the new Department of Intellectual Disabilities, according to the current version of the bill:

“The general functions of the department are to coordinate, set standards for, plan for, monitor, and promote the development and provisions of services and supports to meet the needs of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the public and private sectors in this state as set out in applicable provisions of title 33 [of state law].”

The bill is SB 3341 McNally/HB 3526 Maddox.