Workers' Compensation Board
The enacted budget makes the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of March 29, 2006):
- There are no changes in the State Operations appropriations to the Workers’ Compensation Board.
- Deleted the Executive’s proposed changes in the workers compensation program that puts limits on benefits for workers, particularly those who have permanent partial disabilities due to workplace injuries and limit a claimant’s rights to a fair and full hearing. The legislature will address this issue after enactment of the SFY 2006-07 budget.
The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 27,2006):
- No change in the FTE level of 1,539 from the adjusted 3/31/06 level.
- An All Funds budget of $190 million, a $5.8 million (3.2%) increase from SFY2005-06. According to the Senate analysis, this increase reflects salary adjustments and inflationary increases.
- A decrease of $133,000 (-3.4%) in Personal Service in the Disability Benefits Program. This does not reflect a reduction of FTEs in this program but the issue should be clarified at statewide labor management.
- An increase of $4.6 million in the Workers’ Compensation Program, including $1.1 million in Personal Service, $1.6 million in Nonpersonal Service, $1.8 million in Fringe Benefits and Indirect Costs. According to the Senate analysis, this increase reflects salary adjustments and inflationary increases.
- Article VII legislation that would make extensive changes in the Workers Compensation law. Although it proposes an increase in the maximum weekly benefit, this bill would also include limits on benefits for workers, particularly those who have permanent partial disabilities due to workplace injuries. PEF is also very concerned about proposals to expand the use of alternate dispute resolution for workers compensation cases and proposed changes in workers compensation procedures in several ways that would limit a claimants’ rights to a fair and full hearing.
Program Details-State Operations
Enacted
Proposed
Enacted
Change in
Percent
Program
2005-06 Budget
2006-07 Budget
2006-07 Budget
Appropriation
Change
All Funds
$184,196,000
$190,046,000
$190,046,000
$5,850,000
3.2%
Special Revenue-Other (SRO)
$184,196,000
$190,046,000
$190,046,000
$5,850,000
3.2%
Disability Benefits (SRO)
$7,516,000
$7,457,000
$7,457,000
($59,000)
-0.8%
Personal Service
$3,856,000
$3,723,000
$3,723,000
($133,000)
-3.4%
Nonpersonal Service
$1,791,000
$1,854,000
$1,854,000
$63,000
3.5%
Finge Benefits
$1,740,000
$1,750,000
$1,750,000
$10,000
0.6%
Indirect Costs
$129,000
$130,000
$130,000
$1,000
0.8%
System Modernization (SRO)
$36,798,000
$38,136,000
$38,136,000
$1,338,000
3.6%
Personal Service
$4,646,000
$4,845,000
$4,845,000
$199,000
4.3%
Nonpersonal Service
$29,898,000
$30,844,000
$30,844,000
$946,000
3.2%
Fringe Benefits
$2,096,000
$2,277,000
$2,277,000
$181,000
8.6%
Indirect Costs
$158,000
$170,000
$170,000
$12,000
7.6%
Workers' Comp Prog. (SRO)
$139,882,000
$144,453,000
$144,453,000
$4,571,000
3.3%
Personal Service
$72,558,000
$73,657,000
$73,657,000
$1,099,000
1.5%
Nonpersonal Service
$31,317,000
$32,902,000
$32,902,000
$1,585,000
5.1%
Fringe Benefits.
$32,843,000
$34,619,000
$34,619,000
$1,776,000
5.4%
Indirect Costs
$2,461,000
$2,578,000
$2,578,000
$117,000
4.8%
Maint.Undistrib.
$703,000
$697,000
$697,000
($6,000)
100.0%