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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Chris Shields 651-296-8873
Press/News Releases
LEGISLATION ABOLISHING DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS CLEARS HOUSE
ST. PAUL - The Minnesota House unanimously passed Rep. Gene Pelowski's (DFL-Winona) legislation today abolishing the Department of Employee Relations. Pelowski's bill folds the Department of Employee Relations (DOER) into other state departments. Pelowski said his legislation keeps with a philosophy of downsizing and eliminating government functions that are no longer needed or have outgrown their usefulness.
"It had become clear that DOER's responsibilities could be carried out by other parts of state government more effectively," said Pelowski, who in the past successfully passed legislation to eliminate the Office of State Planning, Higher Education Coordinating Board, mandate reduction and rule making reform.
Pelowski's legislation spreads DOER's human resources and health insurance responsibilities across three existing departments and then eliminates the agency and the commissioner's $139,000 annual salary. The Department of Finance will handle labor relations and human resources; the Department of Administration will manage worker's compensation, and the Department of Health will be responsible for purchasing health insurance for the 129,000 state employees and their dependents.
Pelowski, who chairs the House Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology, and Elections Committee, said this bill was the committee's first step in reforming state government.
"We're going to continue to look at ways to make state government more efficient and accountable to make sure taxpayer dollars are wisely invested."
Similar legislation in the Senate is currently awaiting passage.
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News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
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