Workers

Workers' Compensation Board

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 30,2004):

A FTE level of 1,544 positions on 3/31/05, which represents no change from the estimated 3/31/04 FTE level in the SFY2004-05 executive budget. However, the adjusted 2003-04 level is 33 FTEs less than anticipated in the SFY2003-04 Executive Budget. All of these unbudgeted position reductions during SFY2003-04 occurred in the Workers Compensation program. According to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee these positions are currently vacant and this action simply eliminates funded vacancies and saves $2,238,000.
A $134,000 increase in the Disability Benefits program which reflects a $192,000 increase for employee fringe benefits offset by minor decreases in other appropriations which do not affect the 51 FTE positions funded in this program
A $78,000 increase in the Systems Modernization program which reflects a $231,000 increase for employee fringe benefits offset by minor decreases in other appropriations which do not affect the 81 FTE positions funded in this program.
A $2,538,000 increase in the Workers Compensation program which primarily reflects a $3.6 million increase for employee fringe benefits offset by a minor decrease in personal service and indirect cost appropriations. There is an unexplained $3.8 million increase in the non-personal service appropriation for this program which may be for contractual services. This issue should be clarified with WCB management.
The Executive proposes Article VII legislation that would eliminate the blanket statutory requirement for a stenographic transcription of every Workers’ Compensation Board legal proceeding and permit the Board to use other techniques, as appropriate, to record proceedings such as recording devices and telecommunications.

Workers' Compensation Board
Program Details-State Operations
	Enacted	Proposed	Change in	Percent
Program	2003-04 Budget	2004-05 Budget	Appropriation	Change
All Funds	$167,507,000	$170,257,000	$2,750,000	1.6%
Special Revenue-Other (SRO)	$167,507,000	$170,257,000	$2,750,000	1.6%
				_
Disability Benefits (SRO)	$6,727,000	$6,861,000	$134,000	2.0%
Personal Service	$3,547,000	$3,492,000	($55,000)	-1.6%
Nonpersonal Service	$1,767,000	$1,771,000	$4,000	0.2%
Finge Benefits	$1,286,000	$1,478,000	$192,000	14.9%
Indirect Costs	$127,000	$120,000	($7,000)	-5.5%
				_
System Modernization (SRO)	$35,616,000	$35,694,000	$78,000	0.2%
Personal Service	$4,275,000	$4,209,000	($66,000)	-1.5%
Nonpersonal Service	$29,638,000	$29,558,000	($80,000)	-0.3%
Fringe Benefits	$1,549,000	$1,780,000	$231,000	14.9%
Indirect Costs	$154,000	$147,000	($7,000)	-4.5%
				_
Workers' Comp Prog. (SRO)	$125,164,000	$127,702,000	$2,538,000	2.0%
Personal Service	$66,970,000	$65,941,000	($1,029,000)	-1.5%
Nonpersonal Service	$27,099,000	$30,960,000	$3,861,000	14.2%
Fringe Benefits.	$24,269,000	$27,891,000	$3,622,000	14.9%
Indirect Costs	$2,410,000	$2,294,000	($116,000)	-4.8%
WC Law §50(5)(f)	$3,800,000	$0	($3,800,000)	-100.0%
Maint.Undistrib.	$616,000	$616,000	$0	0.0%