An Arkansas legislative package on government efficiencies was signed into law Wednesday. Governor Asa Hutchinson put his signature on legislation aligning the missions of the War Memorial Stadium Commission, the Arkansas Energy Office and the Office of Health Information Technology into different parent agencies.
The War Memorial Stadium Commission will be transferred to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Governor Hutchinson says War Memorial will now have greater access to resources and marketing opportunities to support the cultural and economic importance of the stadium in Little Rock, and it also provides funding for a nationally recognized stadium consultant study to evaluate War Memorial and make recommendations for the future.
The Arkansas Energy Office will transferred from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. The governor says the move will better align state agencies managing $13.7 million in Volkswagen settlement funds going toward improving air quality, alternative fuel and energy infrastructure in Arkansas. Hutchinson states it will also create better synergy between the energy and environmental offices allowing both departments to increase responsiveness and implementation of existing energy efficiency programs.
The Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) was previously a stand-alone agency, but it will be transferred to the Arkansas Department of Health. Hutchinson says the move will provide OHIT with greater administrative and operational support for the sharing of resources at lower costs to taxpayers. OHIT is currently responsible for the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange Program, and that requires extensive knowledge of public health information and billing.
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