TO: Department Directors and Autonomous Agency Heads
FROM: Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
DATE: January 26, 2005
SUBJECT: Implementation of Executive Order 2005-1
State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules
Earlier this month, I issued Executive Order 2005-1, which will consolidate administrative rule processing and most administrative hearing functions within a new State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules located in the Department of Labor and Economic Growth. Before the Order takes effect, it remains subject to a 60-day review period under Section 2 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. In the interim, I am directing departments and agencies affected by the Order to begin preparations for implementation of the Order on March 27, 2005. Accordingly, I direct:
A. Pursuant to Section VI.A of Executive Order 2005-1, I designate James D. Smiertka, the Senior Executive Assistant Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, as the Administrative Hearing Consolidation Transition Director.
B. By Monday, January 31, 2005, each director of a principal department affected by Executive Order 2005-1 shall designate an individual to serve as a transition coordinator for that department and transmit the name and contact information for that individual to the Administrative Hearing Consolidation Transition Director.
C. To facilitate implementation decisions, directors and transition coordinators for each department affected should immediately begin the process of identifying staff and contractors related to administrative hearing functions, space utilized for administrative hearing functions, support systems, caseloads, and associated costs. Departments affected should also begin to identify any pending cases, settlements, issues of compliance with state or federal laws and regulations, or other obligations that must be resolved prior to implementation. The Administrative Hearing Consolidation Transition Director will be meeting in the near future with each department affected to discuss these and other matters.
D. Departments and agencies are reminded of their obligation under Executive Order 2005-1 to fully and actively cooperate with the Administrative Hearing Consolidation Transition Director in the implementation of the Order.
Your assistance will ensure a smooth transition for the State Administrative Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules. Thank you in advance for your attention to this effort.
______________________________
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM
GOVERNOR
