COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina lawmakers have appointed the first director to an agency charged with managing the state's retirement and health care systems for public workers.

William Blume will lead the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority, created as part of a law reforming the state pension system.

Since March 2011, Blume had been director of the agency that manages the state's six retirement plans.

The new, larger agency adds the responsibility of public employees' health care plans. That had been a division of the Budget and Control Board.

Blume will report to a newly created, 11-member board. Its appointed members will include four beneficiaries of the state retirement plan. They have not yet been appointed.

Blume had been reporting to the director of the Budget and Control Board.

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