Restructuring May Be in Store for DHEC

DHEC Director Catherine Templeton recently told the agency’s Board that she will begin soliciting comments in early 2014 on the reorganization and possible division of DHEC into two separate agencies, one with authority over health matters and one tasked with enforcement of environmental laws.  With nearly 3,100 employees and a budget around $500 million, DHEC is one of the largest divisions of state government.  Unlike many other states, South Carolina does not have separate agencies to handle environmental and health matters.  That may change if comments from stakeholders and agency staff favor a split, but the ultimate decision would rest with the South Carolina General Assembly, which would need to make changes to the laws establishing DHEC and setting out its authority.  Read more about this story in The State newspaper.