A few years ago, I was honored to serve on the very first House Legislative Oversight Committee. My time on the committee was valuable to not only learning more about the inner-workings of each agency; but also allowing me to hear from the public as to their view of each agency. While serving as subcommittee chair, we uncovered many areas to improve and ultimately better serve our state. Although I’m no longer serving on that committee, I want you to still know your feedback is important. Please take time to share if you have interacted with any of the following agencies. (Throughout the year, other agencies will be going through similar process).
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2018
Contact: Chairman, Wm. Weston J. Newton at (803) 212-6810 WestonNewton@schouse.gov
HOW STATE AGENCIES FUNCTION AND INFORMATION THEY MAKE AVAILABLE: Your input is wanted on the six agencies recently announced for study by the SC House Legislative Oversight Committee:
SCETV Commission; Commission on Indigent Defense; Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation; Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; Commission on Prosecution Coordination;
and Department of Revenue
Columbia, SC – Speaker Jay Lucas and the South Carolina House of Representatives’ Legislative Oversight Committee are pleased to announce an online survey seeking public input on the next six agencies under study by the House Legislative Oversight Committee. These agencies are the SCETV Commission; Commission on Indigent Defense; Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation; Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; Commission on Prosecution Coordination; and Department of Revenue.
The public is encouraged to use the survey to share with the Committee any comments, concerns, or suggestions about these six agencies, including their thoughts on the ease of obtaining agency information online. It can be found at this link: https://www.research.net/r/January2018PublicSurvey . While this survey will only be open until March 1, 2018, members of the public may contact the Committee anytime to share comments, concerns, or suggestions about state agencies.
What: Survey, which may be completed in a few minutes, seeking public input
When: Until March 1, 2018
Where: Online; from home, school or public library. The link to take the survey is https://www.research.net/r/January2018PublicSurvey
Who: Entire public and agency personnel are encouraged to take the survey
Input and observations from people who interact with these agencies are important because they may help direct the Committee to potential areas for improvement with these agencies. The Committee’s vision is for South Carolina agencies to become, and continuously remain, the most effective state agencies in the country through processes which eliminate waste and efficiently deploy resources thereby creating greater confidence in state government.
The House’s legislative oversight process, in particular through its emphasis on public input, is proving to be an instrument of change in state agencies.
Review of responses to a similar public survey about the Department of Agriculture helped inform an agency decision to align laboratory employee work hours with the time the agency is open to the public.
Public survey responses and legislator questioning of the Department of Archives and History about the public input helped inform management about the existence of a substantial number of records (about 4,000 boxes) at various Department of Health and Environmental Control offices waiting to be moved to temporary storage at the Department of Archives and History. During the study process, a plan to address the backlog was developed and implemented.