BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: January 6, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, RETIREMENT, AND SOCIAL
SECURITY
Jim Cooper, Chair
ACR 98
(Beth Gaines) - As Introduced July 16, 2015
SUBJECT: State employee merit awards.
SUMMARY: Authorizes the payment of state merit awards approved
by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to three
individuals whose proposals resulted in eliminating or reducing
state expenditures or improving state operations. Specifically,
this resolution provides that the following merit awards be
made:
1)A payment of $21,640, to Andrew Brown, an employee of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), for
suggesting that CDCR automate the Earliest Possible Release
Date and the Minimum Eligible Parole Date and creating an
Excel spreadsheet to do so. The spreadsheet simplified the
process of calculating release dates, reduced the chance of
error, and increased productivity. This suggestion has not
only improved efficiency at CDCR, but it also safeguards the
citizens of California from the possible erroneous release of
a violent offender. Automating this process has resulted in
annual savings to the state of $133,198. Mr. Brown's award
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totals $26,640, $5,000 of which has already been paid to him.
2)A payment of $4,646.67, to Kathleen Simpson, an employee of
the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), for suggesting
and reformatting specified consumer guides that are mailed
monthly to Medi-Cal beneficiaries to help them choose the best
health care plans for themselves and their families.
Reformatting the guides resulted in less paper being used,
less mailing weight and decreased printing costs that saved
the state $48,233.36 annually. Ms. Simpson's award totals
$9,646.67, $5,000 of which has ready been paid to her.
3)A payment of $38,423, to Wayne Stalie, an employee of CDCR,
for suggesting that two institutions, the California State
Prison, Corcoran and the California Substance Abuse Treatment
Facility, Corcoran, eliminate their contracted trash service
and instead utilize existing staff and resources to share
trash collection costs and services. This suggestion resulted
in annual savings to the state of $434,226. Mr. Stalie's
award totals $43,423, $5,000 of which has already been paid to
him.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Authorizes CalHR to make merit awards to current or retired
state employees who:
a) Propose procedures or ideas that are subsequently
adopted and that result in eliminating or reducing state
expenditures or improving operations, provided the
proposals are placed in effect.
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b) Perform special acts or special services in the public
interest.
c) By their superior accomplishments, make exceptional
contributions to the efficiency, economy or other
improvement in the operations of the state government.
2)Provides that awards shall be made pursuant to standards and
procedures established by CalHR, which may adopt rules and
regulations to administer the merit awards program and may
appoint a merit awards board made up of state officers,
employees, or citizens to consider award recipients.
3)Authorizes awards to be paid from the appropriation available
to the state agency affected by the award.
4)Requires that any award over $5,000 have legislative approval.
FISCAL EFFECT: Authorizes the payment of $64,709.67 to three
individuals.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "Existing law authorizes the
Department of Human Services to grant awards to public employees
who propose procedures that result in reducing state
expenditures equal to or greater than $5,000. All such awards
must be approved by concurrent resolution in the state
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legislature."
This resolution is similar to the following resolutions which
approved merit award payments:
ACR 61 (Gaines), Chapter 138, Statutes of 2013
ACR 178 (Niello), Chapter 159, Statutes of 2010
ACR 116 (Blakeslee), Chapter 85, Statutes of 2006
SCR 41 (Soto), Chapter 143, Statutes of 2001
ACR 135 (Wesson), Chapter 122, Statutes of 2000
SCR 15 (Ortiz), Chapter 85 Statutes of 1999
ACR 98 (Hurtt), Chapter 168, Statutes of 1998
SCR 26 (Schiff), Chapter 116, Statutes of 1997
SCR 58 (Rogers), Chapter 52, Statutes of 1996
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Department of Human Resources (Sponsor)
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Karon Green / P.E.,R., & S.S. / (916)
319-3957