Governor Gary R. Herbert announced the creation of the Advisory Council on June 15, 2011 which was authorized by H.B. 280 (2011), State Agency Realignment, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Harper and Sen. Stuart Reid. The Council will consider agency consolidation, reducing costs, incorporating best practices and streamlining services building upon the meaningful efforts of the Governor’s Commission on Optimizing State Government.

The legislative mandate is to:

1. Consider the consolidation of the departments of state government to reduce administrative costs associated with running multiple departments of state government; incorporate management and best business models for a number of cabinet-level members who report to the governor; streamline services of state departments in a manner that is in the best interest of the state; improve the efficiency of government; and reduce the cost of government
2. Consider the advantages and disadvantages on consolidating departments, agencies or offices;
3. Consider the implementation of department consolidation and internal organizational changes necessary to complete the re-alignment of responsibilities if a consolidation of departments is recommended, including identifying employees and functions that would transfer to a consolidated department, and the organization of offices, boards, and divisions within a consolidated department
4. Consider plans and options for reorganization and consolidation of state government, with input from stake holders, legislators, the business community, proposals considered during the Legislature's 2011 General Session, and the 2010 Governor's Commission on Optimizing Government; and
5. Provide a report to the governor on or before October 19, 2011; and report to the Legislature's Government Operations Interim Committee on or before October 19, 2011; and report to the Legislative Management Committee on or before December 15, 2011.

Val Oveson is the Advisory Council Chairman.
Tom Bingham, Co-Chair, Business and Regulatory Services
Jenny Wilson, Co-chair, Government Services
Dave Hart, Co-Chair, Health and Community Services

Council members are: Val Oveson, former State Auditor, Lt. Governor, C.P.A.; Stuart Reid, State Senator; Wayne Harper, State Representative; Patrice Arent, State Representative; Kristen Cox, Executive Director of the Department of Workforce Services; Clark Harms, Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole; Brent Gardner, Executive Director, Utah Association of Counties; Carlos Linares, Businessman and Professor, Past President and CEO of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Tammie Lucero, Economic Development Executive Director, Uintah County; Michelle McComber, Executive Vice President, Utah Medical Association; Dave Hart, Executive Director, BYU Romney Institute of Public Management; Taylor Oldroyd, Chief Executive Officer, Utah County Association of Realtors; Brad Bertoch, President, Wayne Brown Institute; Tom Bingham, President, Utah Manufacturers Association; Randy Parker, Executive Director, Utah Farm Bureau; Randy Harmsen, Engineer and Business Owner; Tyler Ploeger, C.P.A., Audit Manager with Tanner Co.; Lincoln Shurtz, Legislative Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns; and Jenny Wilson, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, John A. Moran Eye Center, past Salt Lake County Council Member.

Unlike its predecessor, the Utah Advisory Commission to Optimize State Government, this Council was created by statute and is therefore a public body subject to the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act.