Legislature(2001 - 2002)
01/25/2002 02:47 PM House FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
January 25, 2002
2:47 PM
TAPE HFC 02 - 16, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Representative Con Bunde, Vice-Chair called the House
Finance Committee meeting to order at 2:47 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Con Bunde, Vice-Chair
Representative Eric Croft
Representative John Davies
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Ken Lancaster
Representative Carl Moses
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Eldon Mulder, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair
Representative Richard Foster
Representative John Harris
Representative Jim Whitaker
ALSO PRESENT
Ed Flanagan, Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce
Development;
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
There were no teleconference testifiers.
GENERAL SUBJECT (S):
Missions and Measures:
Department of Labor and Workforce Development
The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes
and handouts will be on file with the House Finance
Committee through the 22nd Legislative Session, contact 465-
2156. After the 22nd Legislative Session they will be
available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
LOG SPEAKER DISCUSSION
TAPE HFC 02 - 16 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE
SIDE A DEVELOPMENT
000 ED FLANAGAN, Discussed the Employment Security
COMMISSIONER, Division. He noted that the there has
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR been an increase to 34.7 percent of the
AND WORKFORCE number of registered clients that are
DEVELOPMENT receiving service though an Alaska Job
Center. He noted that the centers are
largely self-service.
Commissioner Noted that some of the federal measures
Flanagan are useful but some do not reflect
performance according to state needs.
19 Commissioner Provided members with a copy of their
Flanagan Strategic Plan for the Employment
Security Division (copy on file). The
overall mission is to exceed the
expectations of Alaskan employers,
workers and job seekers.
34 Commissioner Reviewed the timeliness of first payments
Flanagan issued within 35 days. The federal
benchmark is 95 percent. They are at 97.2
percent.
52 Commissioner Referred to measures on training adult
Flanagan job participants. The federal target is
for 66 percent placement. They are at 60
percent. He felt that the measure could
be improved. He observed that only the
baseline has been established. They
projected a 1 percent increase.
99 Commissioner He maintained that the measure: the
Flanagan percentage of survey respondents rating
the UI services adequate or higher needed
to be changed.
118 Commissioner He observed that a new survey would
Flanagan discover the number of employers
satisfied.
150 Commissioner Reviewed measures for the Division of
Flanagan Administrative Services. He observed that
the number of late penalties incurred for
payroll or vendor payments have been less
than .1 percent or 33 - 34 out of 33,400.
164 Commissioner Observed that the average time taken from
Flanagan a workers' Compensation hearing has
decreased. The department intends to
attempt to add an additional Citizen's
Panel.
190 Vice-Chair Bunde Questioned if the results of the panels'
hearings would be helpful to the
subcommittee.
202 Commissioner Noted that the state is only accountable
Flanagan for cases concerning state employees. The
decisions are approximately 50/50.
210 Commissioner Noted that there has been progress on
Flanagan Fishermen's Fund claims. Claim processing
time has been reduced from 68.7 to 23.7
days.
229 Commissioner Noted that the number of uninsured injury
Flanagan cases have been decreased from 117 in
FY98 to 19 in FY01. They project 15 cases
in FY02.
251 Commissioner Second injury fund determination has been
Flanagan reduced. He explained that insurers pay
into the Fund to remove the disincentive
to hire a previously injured employee.
The beginning salary for injured rehired
employees comes from the Fund. The money
comes from insurers and penalties.
279 Commissioner Reviewed measures for the Division of
Flanagan Labor Standards and Safety. He noted that
lost workday injury and illness has been
targeted. The number of lost workdays is
difficult to account due to different
definitions. Lost workday incidents are
measurable; however there is a time lag
on the data. They only have numbers for
1999. An additional research analyst in
the OSHA program would allow them to have
their own measure. He noted that the
number is being reduced by approximately
3 percent a year.
322 Vice-Chair Bunde Questioned if the reduction in the
logging industry was considered [as a
contributing factor]. Commissioner
Flanagan responded that they try to
account for that in the number of
incidents. More discussion ensued
regarding the measure. Illness rates are
per 100 full-time workers.
345 Commissioner Discussed the percentage of wage claims
Flanagan settled. He observed that 50 percent of
the claims are settled with a collection.
Employers go out of business or leave the
state in some incidences. The program is
general fund supported and there is a
lack of resources. He did not know the
number of cases per year. He explained
that many of the employers have gone
bankrupt.
378 Commissioner Noted that the number of boiler and
Flanagan pressure vessel inspections completed
compared to the backlog has not gone
beyond 65,000. He acknowledged the need
to reduce the backlog. One plumbing
inspector has passed qualifications to
assist with boiler inspections. He
stressed the importance of assuring
safety. He expressed concern with
elevator inspections. There is only one
inspector. There are 850 - 900 elevators
with a backlog of 300 elevators. There is
a plan to address the issue under
legislation introduced by Representative
Murkowski. The untapped revenue from
backlog could pay for two positions.
422 Representative Questioned if inspections could be
Hudson contracted to relieve the backlog.
429 Commissioner Noted that there are some contractors for
Flanagan the large vessels, which the state
certifies. The cost is greater for
contracting than it would be for in-state
inspectors.
431 Representative Expressed concern with the safety factor.
Hudson
439 Commissioner Noted that the economy of scale would not
Flanagan allow the state to get out of the
business.
441 Commissioner The wages of clients served by the
Flanagan Division has increased from $17,000 in
1998 to $20,425 in FY01. The Division
anticipates a 2 percent annual increase.
469 Commissioner Noted that the disability determination
Flanagan service has had a backlog. The backlog
has been decreased. There is not
currently a measure to track this item.
489 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|