Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) on Monday signed a bill (HB 228) that will split the state's Department of Human Resources into three separate entities: the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health, and a refocused Department of Human Resources, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Perdue said he is dedicated to having the new agencies fully functional by July 1.
Frank Shelp, clinical director at Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah, will serve as commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The Department of Community Health -- which oversees PeachCare, Medicaid and public health -- will continue to be under the leadership of Rhonda Medows.
The Department of Human Resources, which will focus on aging and child and family services, will be led by Commissioner B.J. Walker (Gould Sheinin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/5).