A plan to break up the state Department of Management Services is being called a "rational reorganization" or, in less glowing terms, "rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic."

Senate Bill 1238 would disperse the 1,266-employee DMS by shifting many of its functions into the Department of Financial Services, while creating a new Agency for Asset Management to be housed temporarily under the Department of Environmental Protection.

The measure by Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, cleared his Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability on Wednesday. It next goes to the Ways and Means Committee.

But, Ring encountered stiff opposition from fellow Democrats along the way.

Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, repeatedly asked for -- but did not get -- a financial analysis of the reorganization.

"This will have enormous financial impact. There's been tremendous improvement in the department in the past two years. We need to allow them to do better," Lawson said.

He alleged that Ring's plan, rather than saving money, would cost $50 million more in transition costs.

Ways and Means Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, promised that a fiscal impact report will be completed before his panel hears the bill.

Ring said his "Government Effectiveness and Efficiency" legislation does not specify layoffs, but he added that layoffs are possible whether or not his bill is enacted.

"This state has not had a significant reorganization since the 1960s, and no agency has been reorganized in 20 years," he said. "DMS has doubled in size, and other agencies have similar purviews."

Alexander has expressed frustration that he hasn't been able to gather a complete inventory of state-owned and managed real-estate holdings from DMS.