Governor Laura Kelly is looking at a second agency reorganization effort as the legislative session continues.
Earlier this month, the governor announced a renewed effort to combine the Department for Children and Families and the Department for Aging and Disability Services into the Department of Human Services. Now the governor wants to relocate the State Tourism Division into the Department of Commerce.
Kelly says the move from the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to the Commerce Department follows input from businesses, marketing organizations and industry partners including the Travel Industry Association of Kansas, Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association and Kansas Economic Development Alliance. The governor says the move — if approved by lawmakers — will signal the state will use all the tools at its disposal to foster economic growth.
If passed, Wildlife, Parks and Tourism would simply be known as the Department of Wildlife and Parks. Tourism would then move to the Commerce Department’s Business Development wing.
