COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lawmakers are looking to restructure the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) after an audit found mismanagement and inappropriate behavior from its seven-member commission.
Senators passed a bill this week that would get rid of the seven-member commission and put the agency in the governor's cabinet.
The agency is currently governed by a commission, which is appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate. The commission is responsible for hiring the executive director.
The State Legislative Audit Council is recommending the Department become a cabinet agency after they found three things:
- The current agency's structure is unlike any other in the country;
- There was inappropriate behavior by current commissioners, including violations of state open meeting laws; and
- There was a 60% increase in spending from 2016 to 2021 on things like travel expenses, cellphone bills, and custom tablecloths. They also found that one Commissioner’s expenses were not always adequately documented regarding payment for this Commissioner’s aide.
“These are all purchases that really only benefit the commissioners and not the agency or the people that it serves," one auditor told lawmakers Wednesday.
The audit also states the commission was micro-managing day-to-day functions of the department, overburdening staff and keeping them from getting their jobs done, including the commission-appointed director.
"It raises the question that when you have these independent boards that are running an agency, there’s no real oversight," said Sen. Dick Harpootlian (D-Richland).
"We have over 26,000 on the waiting list for services, and we’ve got abuse, neglect, and inadequate services that are being provided," said Kimberly Tissot with Able SC.
Tissot said the change is long overdue. In 2017, legislators tried to place the agency under Governor's control but were unsuccessful.
“I think that the agency will have the correct oversight to ensure the state is meeting federal laws as well, but making sure citizens with disabilities are being served appropriately," said Tissot.
In response to the findings, Interim State Director Constance Holloway said in a statement to News 19:
"DDSN is aware that the South Carolina (SC) Legislative Audit Council (LAC) released its final report which details some of the findings of its audit of our agency. The South Carolina General Assembly requested the audit. We cooperated fully by providing all requested information and clarifying details when asked, as we are mandated to do by state law.
DDSN cannot comment on the details of the audit, as it is a state government issue. We will continue monitoring this matter and will follow all state laws as directed."
The 46-page document is part one of two. The second half is expected to be completed this summer.
The bill will now go to the House for consideration.