Legislature(2011 - 2012)BUTROVICH 205
02/24/2011 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
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| Start | |
| Department of Public Safety | |
| Department of Administration | |
| Department of Corrections | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 24, 2011
9:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bill Wielechowski, Chair
Senator Joe Paskvan, Vice Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Cathy Giessel
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Albert Kookesh
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
- HEARD
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
- HEARD
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JOE MASTERS, Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented Department of Public Safety
overview.
BECKY HULTBERG, Commissioner
Department of Administration
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented Department of Administration
overview.
JOE SCHMIDT, Commissioner
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented Department of Corrections
overview.
CARMEN GUTIERREZ, Deputy Commissioner
Division of Rehabilitation & Reentry
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented overview for Division of
Rehabilitation and Reentry.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:00:06 AM
CHAIR BILL WIELECHOWSKI called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Giessel, Paskvan, and Chair Wielechowski.
^Department of Public Safety
PRESENTATION: DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC SAFETY
9:03:08 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the first order of business would
be a presentation by the Department of Public Safety.
JOE MASTERS, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety, said
they have both a constitutional and a statutory mandate to
provide public safety. One of the biggest drivers of service
need is the population. As the population increases, the need
for public services increases, as does the amount of crime. Mt-
Su is the largest and fastest growing service area, and is
policed mainly by state troopers. This is the main area of
growth in the department. The question is how to best meet those
increased needs.
9:06:30 AM
Efficiencies in services allow them to apply resources where
needed, to do more with existing resources. A fundamental
question is how to maximize and better leverage technology in
order to improve services. One way is through the ability to
interface with other agencies; to facilitate transfer of
information between departments.
9:07:46 AM
SENATOR MEYER joined the meeting.
The backbone for public safety information in the state is the
APSIN system. The current mainframe is archaic, and needs to be
moved to a server-based system in order to experience cost
savings. The Alaska Records Management System (ARMS) is just
starting. This will allow a change in the way they do police
reports, so they will reside on a system where they can be
accessed by other agencies. This must be done through
technology.
9:09:54 AM
Another increased efficiency would be the expanded use of video
teleconferencing, especially for court hearings. This would
require the cooperation of all three branches; executive,
legislative, and judicial. Currently there are some allowances
for video court hearings, but this needs to be greatly expanded.
For instance, when grand jury hearings are held in Anchorage,
this requires officers to fly in from rural areas, which takes a
day of travel. Then they wait in the courtroom for their turn to
testify. Then it takes another day to get back to their
stations. The result is three days of lost productivity, in an
area that cannot afford to lose a trooper for even one day.
Expanded use of video in grand jury hearings would be a huge
increase in efficiency. It could be used when no cross
examination is needed.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if that would require a statutory
change.
9:12:14 AM
COMMISSIONER MASTERS answered he thought it would take
legislation and a court rule change.
Another area for increased efficiency is collaboration with
other agencies. An example is the recent partnership of Public
Safety with Corrections in the Village Public Safety Officer
(VPSO) program. This provides efficiencies to both agencies.
VPSOs assist with supervised probation in rural areas, which
save time and cost of travel for the Department of Corrections
(DOC) and allow DOC to put probationers in rural areas where
they could not in the past.
Just beginning is a collaboration with statewide coordination of
911 and emergency communications.
9:15:34 AM
They have examined work flow processes in some areas. For
instance, there was an issue with fingerprint background
investigation time. Prints were submitted by job seekers (i.e.
school bus drivers) and the average turnaround time was 105
days. This was unacceptable, and provided no protection, because
people were hired before the check was complete. So the
department looked at workflow and made changes and automated
some pieces, and they reduced the time to three days. This is a
small example but this type of thing can be done on a broader
scale. The state needs to use consultants, develop internal
expertise, and perhaps standardize some processes in state
government.
9:18:50 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked about the issue of turnover, and what are
the challenges to recruiting and retaining.
COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT said finding and retaining longer term
employees is fundamental. They have low turnover at the
commission level. He feels it is a good organization, with good
training, and the salary and benefits are sufficient to attract
people. This is not true in all job classes of the department.
Some may be lagging in adequate pay, for instance computer
programming and scientific analysis.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked about other specific work flow changes
that could be looked at.
COMMISSIONER said he would get back on that.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked about jurisdictional issues; in the
MatSu, for instance.
COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT responded there is no requirement for
municipalities or boroughs to provide public safety services.
They are only provided if taxes are sufficient to fund services.
Cities provide some, but not usually unincorporated boroughs.
Most of the population lives outside of city boundaries.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if troopers go into Wasilla and Palmer.
COMMISSIOER SCHMIDT answered they have informal agreements with
those areas, and statute also allows them to assist
municipalities. Troopers help out with things like homicides,
drugs, and highway safety. Often troopers traveling between
areas will witness things, so they take care of them.
SENATOR MEYER asked about Girdwood.
COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT responded Girdwood is within the
municipality of Anchorage. Citizens pay taxes in some service
districts, but not in Girdwood, so troopers are there.
9:26:16 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there are any redundancies in the
department.
COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT answered that is a loaded question. They
are working on looking at organizational structure, and there is
some talk of reorganization to better deliver services. They
have reduced the number of bureaus. Several positions have been
refocused. Internal accountabilities, internal audit review,
inspections, planning and research are being conducted.
^Department of Administration
PRESENTATION: DEPARTMENT of ADMINISTRATION
9:28:52 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the next order of business would be
a presentation by the Department of Administration.
BECKY HULTBERG, Commissioner, Department of Administration
(DOA), said the need to decrease growth in the cost of state
government is very much on her mind. Today the state has a
healthy savings account and sufficient revenue, but this could
change in the future. DOA has a stewardship responsibility to
ensure the public gets maximum value for dollars spent. They
provide support services to state government, so things like
relationships with employees, as well as retirement and
benefits, are within their department. Governor Parnell has
asked cabinet members to be innovators and collaborators. This
sounds simple but is extremely important.
9:31:49 AM
She has identified two themes around efficiency and
effectiveness. The first is technology as an enabler of improved
business processes. Technology is a driver of efficiency if
implemented effectively. The ASSET project is a standardized
timekeeping system. Currently a lot of manual work is followed
by data entry. Using this system will improve efficiency in that
area.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked how it would work.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG responded that the use of manual systems
or Excel spreadsheets requires duplication of entry. By setting
up an automated system, duplication will be avoided. Some
divisions and departments may use a time clock, such as
corrections, but most employees will use the interface.
A second project is the administrative system replacement
project (ASRP), which will replace core accounting and payroll
systems. These systems are reaching the end of their useful
life, and have to be replaced. This requires a capital
investment. The state currently has over 200 procurement
officers, and the system doesn't know what they have purchased
until a check is issued. The new system will provide accounting
for what people are purchasing.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if this is similar to Texas.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG answered other state have gone through
this and the department is looking at models from other states.
9:36:07 AM
The new system ultimately will allow more automated ways of
entering HR information; it will allow more employee self
service.
Technology--understanding the work flow process is critical. If
you don't understand this, you can create inefficiency. Does the
state have the competency within state government to use the
tools that are out there to analyze workflow within a
department; it is possible the state may need to hire outside
consultants.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked what types of information employees
would be able to enter.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG responded they could go on line to add a
dependent, change their withholding, etc. This would be better
for employees and would remove the work of someone having to
input information for them.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted some states have implemented a program
called CityStat.
9:39:02 AM
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG said cross departmental collaboration
gives better value for dollars spent. Right now the state is not
effectively leveraging its IT dollars for maximum benefit to the
state. There is a natural tension between centralization and
decentralization. Right now the system is not efficient. The
state needs to find efficiency and provide service.
9:40:32 AM
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG said they are also looking at providing
state services in a one stop shop mode. Services such as the
DMV, hunting and fishing licenses, and PFD applications could
all be in one location?
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted some shops are opening up that are not
run by the state, such as DMV, and they are charging more.
COMMISSIONER said those arrangements do exist.
SENATOR MEYER said he has used satellite offices frequently, and
it is faster so you pay for convenience.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG said DMV is one that touches most people.
The more we can work to improve customer service, the better.
Currently there are different levels of customer service in
public facing departments. The state needs to have a uniform
customer service policy.
9:43:24 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked what type of notice the public receives
that there might be an additional charge. Are we outsourcing
contractually?
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG said she would find out that information.
She said the DOA is implementing a return to work program within
the division of risk management, trying to help injured workers
to reintegrate into the workforce. The longer someone is at home
out of work, the less likely they are to come back. In terms of
office space costs, the DOA could explore more flexible schedule
arrangements or shift work to accommodate employees and reduce
office space cost.
9:45:40 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said that sometimes changes are made in order
to create efficiencies, so there is an increment but you never
see the deficit. This is not intentional, but the effect is that
government grows. For instance, efficiencies in the court system
could also create efficiencies in DOC. The state should be
looking at the big picture, instead of piece by piece.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG responded we have recognized that in the
procurement area. A change only saves money if it is not being
spent somewhere else. DOA can play an important role, but it
ultimately comes down to management and oversight, department by
department, with collaboration.
SENATOR MEYER said procurement is an area where we can gain a
lot of efficiencies, but it may take an upfront investment. The
legislature and the governor need to learn to invest upfront, in
order to acquire the technology that results in efficiencies.
The legislature also needs to look at the whole procurement
code. There are so many exceptions, why have a code at all.
There is potential for millions to be saved. The intent is not
to lose jobs; change can be tough to do, but it needs to be
done.
9:50:53 AM
COMISSIONER HULTBERG said the Administrative System Replacement
Project (ASRP) will be able to do some of those things. The
system needs to be changed to a procure to pay process so the
state can identify what are we buying in large quantities. She
would also be happy to work with the legislature on the
procurement code, which needs to be updated. It is also
important to find efficiencies in the personnel area. We can
take care of people and still find efficiencies. The word
productivity doesn't need to mean fear. It is important to
recognize that we have good people, and to take care of the
people who work for us.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked how many retire each year.
COMMISSIONER answered she could provide statistics.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted that efficiencies can be done in a
painless way.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if there is a particular category of
employee that has constant turnover.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG answered there may be one or two targeted
areas, but none are at a crisis level yet. Administrative law
judges may be of some concern. The Division of Personnel is
aware of those areas that are having difficulty with recruitment
and retention. This also involves a statutory responsibility to
create a pay plan. DOA Will explore further if there is
interest.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said the question comes up every year; if we
are losing people and it costs a lot to train replacements, we
need to focus on retention.
COMMISSIONER noted that when people leave a job, less than half
the time it is because of pay and benefits. Workplace culture,
leadership training, and relationships with supervisors are most
often cited.
SENATOR PASKVAN said he would like to know more about how many
are retiring versus leaving because of low pay versus being
stressed by managers, etc. He noted we need that type of
information; some departments do have exit interviews, but the
process could be improved.
9:56:49 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked how many employees are retiring and then
being hired back on a contract basis.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG responded the DOA is working on getting
that information.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted that DOA manages some public buildings,
and asked if retrofit and weatherization of those buildings
could provide cost savings.
COMMMISSIONER HULTBERG said she would find that information.
SENATOR PASKVAN said he would like to know what the trends are
toward contract hire, especially of employees who were
previously direct employees.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG answered if someone comes back on a
contract DOA can't get the information through the Division of
Personnel. It has to be collected from each department.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked who makes the determination whether
someone is hired as an employee versus on contract.
COMMISSIONER HULTBERG answered she would get the information.
The Division of Personnel has some role, but many decisions are
made by individual departments. This would be handled through
procurement staff.
^Department of Corrections
PRESENTATION: DEPARTMENT of CORRECTIONS
10:01:34 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the next presentation would be from
the Department of Corrections.
JOE SCHMIDT, Commissioner, Department of Corrections (DOC), said
that they have identified possible efficiencies. The state
constitution calls for five principles of criminal
administration: public protection, community condemnation of the
offender, rights of the victim, restitution, and the principles
of reformation. Their mission statement gives three different
approaches: secure confinement, reformative programs, and
supervised reentry.
This gives them the ability to focus on areas needed. There is
secure confinement for dangerous people. Reformative programs
are needed because 95 percent get out of jail. This is not a
prisoner rights approach; it is about the communities that
people go back to. Where the prison population comes from is a
result of the law making process. Reducing recidivism is where
efficiencies will come from. We need to prevent the crime in the
first place, and\or focus on people not coming back.
10:04:36 AM
About 200 a month come back from the probation department. Half
come back with new crimes, and half of those with new crimes
committed while waiting for a judicial process. During that time
is when they commit new crimes. The DOC is implementing a new
program called PACE, Probationer Accountability Certain
Enforcement. The highest risk offenders are assigned to this
program. If they do anything wrong, such as missing an
appointment with their probation officer, the police pick them
up that day. The Anchorage police department and courts have
agreed to see them within 24 or 48 hours. Hopefully when they
are released after a day or two, they don't lose any progress
they have made. The PACE group is now up to 70, and continued
expansion is the way of the future. DOC is focusing on domestic
violence misdemeanants, and they are asking for resources to do
this.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked how much was needed.
COMMISSIONER answered $200,000. He noted the DOC's guidance
comes from questions.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said recidivism is a huge issue
COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT said most results from new crimes, but
parole violations could also be new crimes. After treatment
programs, the recidivism rate drops to 40 percent.
10:10:04 AM
In terms of the focus on recidivism, the VPSO partnership is a
very strong program; part of the reason they downsized Goose
Creek was to spread out the resource. People from rural
communities had to get treatment in Anchorage or Fairbanks, and
they have no support in the community, so getting them back home
works best. Communities want them sent home. The sex offender
program and halfway house in Bethel has been successful. DOC
needs more of those programs. He would also like to expand
electronic monitoring, which is 95 percent successful, meaning
95 percent of participants finish on time without a violation or
a new crime. Five percent are probation violations. DOC wants to
use this program more, and they are asking for funding. This
costs $13 a day as opposed to $139 a day to keep an offender in
prison.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked who administers the ignition interlock
program.
COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT responded he would find the information.
He noted that DOC medical costs are going up. Cost containment
is a challenge, because the law says they are required to
provide essential care.
10:14:23 AM
CARMEN GUTIERREZ, Deputy Commissioner, Department of
Corrections, thanked the committee for its worthy approach. She
said inmate medical care is a big issue which grows as the
number of people incarcerated increases. Under state statute and
regulation and policy and procedure, the DOC is required to
provide inmates with necessary medical, dental, and mental
health services. DOC has a history of utilizing the most cost
effective method for treatment, but the primary decision is not
cost, but rather the need. Is it medically necessary? DOC has to
provide these services to unsentenced as well as sentenced
offenders.
The driving factor for fy12 increases is the increased cost of
contractual medical fees for services. DOC does not have the
capacity to treat all ailments inside the institutions. These
costs have increased beyond the increase in inmate population.
They have implemented cost containment measures, such as
increasing the fee individuals are required to pay when they
request treatment. This has been increased to $5. They have also
addressed cost efficiencies in terms of long care acute inmate
care; St. Elias Specialty Hospital now has a contract to provide
long term care for inmates who would otherwise be in the
hospital. This results in savings of up to $7,000 a day.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if a wealthy person is in jail who pays
for their medical care.
MS. GUTIERREZ said currently the DOC does not have an electronic
medical records system. As a result they lack the necessary
infrastructure to collect private insurance from inmates.
Regulation says they can collect but they don't have the
infrastructure to do it. DOC has contacted a third party medical
care collection agency, but they won't do the job without an
electronic medical records system. It would not be cost
effective for them to handle paper files. DOC has a million
dollar capital request in the fy12 budget for an electronic
medical records system. This would provide great efficiencies
they currently can't employ. They could then collect private
insurance.
10:21:50 AM
Other cost containment measures include renegotiating contracts
with hospitals to align costs and standards of care with
Medicaid. They are in the process of aligning pharmaceutical
costs also. They are doing a case by case review of all pay for
services cases in outside medical care facilities.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked how much are we paying.
MS. GUTIERREZ answered this year it is estimated to be $38
million.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI responded, "So a million dollar investment
would be good." He asked if DOC could seek assets from a person
who has them.
MS. GUTIERREZ said she did not know the answer but would find
out.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if a person is on Medicaid or Medicare
does DOC use that rate of pay to establish what the provider is
paid.
MS. GUTIERREZ responded there are two important issues. If a
person is on Medicaid or Medicare, DOC can't collect. They are
trying to negotiate fee-for-service contracts that are
consistent with the Medicaid rate. In some cases they are paying
more.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked will health care providers accept those
rates of pay.
10:26:24 AM
MS. GUTIERREZ answered they may have some success with
hospitals. With regard to doctors, they may not have same
success. Because they are in great demand, many won't take
Medicaid. There is a severe shortage of internists in the state,
so DOC pays what it has to pay.
MS. GUTIERREZ said the goal for long term efficiencies is to use
proven evidence based practices to implement programs that
address the issues that brought the offender into custody in the
first place. Alaska's prison system cannot continue to grow at
the current rate.
The goal is to identify the drivers of prison growth; 48 percent
are in custody for offenses against a person, or for sex
offenses. This means 52 percent are in custody for nonviolent
offenses. The greatest efficiency would be to reduce the rate of
prison growth, possibly by identifying alternatives to
incarceration for offenders who do not present a danger to the
public.
10:30:01 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Wielechowski adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m.
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