The department of social and health services shall be subdivided into divisions, including a division of vocational rehabilitation. Except as otherwise specified or as federal requirements may differently require, these divisions shall be established and organized in accordance with plans to be prepared by the secretary and approved by the governor. In preparing such plans, the secretary shall endeavor to promote efficient public management, to improve programs, and to take full advantage of the economies, both fiscal and administrative, to be gained from the consolidation of the departments of public assistance, institutions, the veterans' rehabilitation council, and the division of vocational rehabilitation of the coordinating council on occupational education.