OCSEA’s Research Analyst Adam McKenzie gave searing testimony about the dangers of the extreme Sunset Commission bill that could eliminate entire state agencies through simple inaction of the state legislature.
OCSEA has been closely following Senate Bill 329 that includes executive level state agencies in a sunset review process. Such process would be initiated every two years and would decide whether or not state agencies are effective and efficient. Small committees of legislators would have the power to “expire” state agencies due to ineffectiveness. In addition, inaction on the part of the legislature to maintain a state agency would terminate that state agency.
McKenzie told members of the House Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee such processes have been found to be cumbersome and not useful by many states that have tried putting sunset commissions in place beginning in the 70s and 80s. States like Florida have already scrapped their sunset review process and others have found they demonstrate little to no savings for states. Read OCSEA's testimony.
Also offering opposition testimony was Lisa Hamler-Fugitt of the Ohio Association of Food Banks. Advocates for Ohio's Future, Policy Matters Ohio and SEIU 1199 also submitted written testimony in opposition.
While there appears to be little appetite for the bill in the state legislature, OCSEA will continue to monitor SB 329. Another bill, House Bill 617, however, likely to pass, will make permanent a sunset review process for many State of Ohio Boards and Commissions. Many state boards and commissions are already subject to such a review process. Read the HB 617 fiscal impact statement.