This measure would declare that merit award payments in specified amounts, authorized by the Department of Human Resources, are made to specified current or retired state employees whose proposals have resulted in annual savings and net revenue gains to the state.

This measure would declare that merit award payments in specified amounts, authorized by the Department of Human Resources, are made to specified current or retired state employees whose proposals have resulted in annual savings and net revenue gains to the state.

This measure would declare that merit award payments in specified amounts, authorized by the Department of Human Resources, are made to specified current or retired state employees whose proposals have resulted in annual savings and net revenue gains to the state.

WHEREAS, Section 19823 of the Government Code authorizes the Department of Human Resources to make awards to current or retired state employees who propose procedures or ideas that are subsequently adopted and placed in effect and result in eliminating or reducing state expenditures or improving state operations; and

WHEREAS, Any award granted under Section 19823 of the Government Code in excess of $5,000 must be approved by concurrent resolution of the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, As described below, three individuals should be awarded for their effective, cost-saving ideas; and

WHEREAS, The Case Record Unit of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is responsible for calculating the release dates of convicted offenders serving prison time. The information is recorded on a calculation form. The unit was using the Offender Based Information System (OBIS), which was developed in the 1970s, as a primary automated system for storing offender data. However, OBIS was not able to automatically factor in the new sentencing laws enacted in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, Court decisions complicated the release date calculations for violent and habitual offenders. Approximately 30,000 cases had to be recalculated. For each record, staff had to manually perform 9-12 calculations and 23-31 entries using paper, pencil, and a desk calculator. A miscalculated offender release date was the serious consequence of any error; and

WHEREAS, Andrew Brown, a Correctional Officer and Permanent Intermittent Correctional Case Records Analyst, suggested that CDCR automate the Earliest Possible Release Date and the Minimum Eligible Parole Date. Mr. Brown created an Excel spreadsheet that simplified the process of calculating release dates, reduced the chance of error, and created a more professional document. This suggestion reduced the possibility of errors and increased productivity; and

WHEREAS, The annual savings to CDCR in staff time was $133,198. Mr. Browns approved award was $26,640. Mr. Brown has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Mr. Brown the $21,640 balance. This idea has not only improved efficiency at CDCR, it also safeguards the citizens of California from the possible erroneous release of a violent offender; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) mails a consumer guide monthly to Medi-Cal beneficiaries to help them choose the best health care plan for themselves and their families. The comparison charts in the County of Sacramento and the County of San Diego guides were four pages and each guide weighed two ounces; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Simpson, a Staff Information Systems Analyst with DHCS, suggested reformatting the two guides. The reformatting reduced the mailing weight of each guide from two ounces to one and also reduced the printing costs. As a result of these reductions, DHCS realized an annual cost savings of $48,233.36. Ms. Simpsons award was $9,646.67. Ms. Simpson has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Ms. Simpson the $4,646.67 balance for this idea; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wayne Stalie, an Equipment Maintenance Supervisor at CDCR, suggested 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. CDCR recently noted that the two institutions have continued to save money with this resourceful idea; and

WHEREAS, The documented first year savings were $434,226. Mr. Stalies approved award was $43,423. Mr. Stalie has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Mr. Stalie the $38,423 balance; and

WHEREAS, The savings generated by implementation of these suggestions will continue to be realized on an annual basis; and

WHEREAS, As a result of actual savings generated from the implementation of these suggestions, it is unnecessary to appropriate additional funds for payment of awards to these employees; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby declares that merit award payments, authorized by the five-member Merit Award Board and the Department of Human Resources, are hereby made in amounts up to and including 10 or 20 percent of the first-year savings generated by each suggestion, as follows:

(a)To Andrew Brown in the amount of $21,640.

(b)To Kathleen Simpson in the amount of $4,646.67.

(c)To Wayne Stalie in the amount of $38,423; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Controller and to the Department of Human Resources.

WHEREAS, Section 19823 of the Government Code authorizes the Department of Human Resources to make awards to current or retired state employees who propose procedures or ideas that are subsequently adopted and placed in effect and result in eliminating or reducing state expenditures or improving state operations; and

WHEREAS, Any award granted under Section 19823 of the Government Code in excess of $5,000 must be approved by concurrent resolution of the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, As described below, three individuals should be awarded for their effective, cost-saving ideas; and

WHEREAS, The Case Record Unit of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is responsible for calculating the release dates of convicted offenders serving prison time. The information is recorded on a calculation form. The unit was using the Offender Based Information System (OBIS), which was developed in the 1970s, as a primary automated system for storing offender data. However, OBIS was not able to automatically factor in the new sentencing laws enacted in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, Court decisions complicated the release date calculations for violent and habitual offenders. Approximately 30,000 cases had to be recalculated. For each record, staff had to manually perform 9-12 calculations and 23-31 entries using paper, pencil, and a desk calculator. A miscalculated offender release date was the serious consequence of any error; and

WHEREAS, Andrew Brown, a Correctional Officer and Permanent Intermittent Correctional Case Records Analyst, suggested that CDCR automate the Earliest Possible Release Date and the Minimum Eligible Parole Date. Mr. Brown created an Excel spreadsheet that simplified the process of calculating release dates, reduced the chance of error, and created a more professional document. This suggestion reduced the possibility of errors and increased productivity; and

WHEREAS, The annual savings to CDCR in staff time was $133,198. Mr. Browns approved award was $26,640. Mr. Brown has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Mr. Brown the $21,640 balance. This idea has not only improved efficiency at CDCR, it also safeguards the citizens of California from the possible erroneous release of a violent offender; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) mails a consumer guide monthly to Medi-Cal beneficiaries to help them choose the best health care plan for themselves and their families. The comparison charts in the County of Sacramento and the County of San Diego guides were four pages and each guide weighed two ounces; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Simpson, a Staff Information Systems Analyst with DHCS, suggested reformatting the two guides. The reformatting reduced the mailing weight of each guide from two ounces to one and also reduced the printing costs. As a result of these reductions, DHCS realized an annual cost savings of $48,233.36. Ms. Simpsons award was $9,646.67. Ms. Simpson has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Ms. Simpson the $4,646.67 balance for this idea; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wayne Stalie, an Equipment Maintenance Supervisor at CDCR, suggested 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. CDCR recently noted that the two institutions have continued to save money with this resourceful idea; and

WHEREAS, The documented first year savings were $434,226. Mr. Stalies approved award was $43,423. Mr. Stalie has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Mr. Stalie the $38,423 balance; and

WHEREAS, The savings generated by implementation of these suggestions will continue to be realized on an annual basis; and

WHEREAS, As a result of actual savings generated from the implementation of these suggestions, it is unnecessary to appropriate additional funds for payment of awards to these employees; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby declares that merit award payments, authorized by the five-member Merit Award Board and the Department of Human Resources, are hereby made in amounts up to and including 10 or 20 percent of the first-year savings generated by each suggestion, as follows:

(a)To Andrew Brown in the amount of $21,640.

(b)To Kathleen Simpson in the amount of $4,646.67.

(c)To Wayne Stalie in the amount of $38,423; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Controller and to the Department of Human Resources.

WHEREAS, Section 19823 of the Government Code authorizes the Department of Human Resources to make awards to current or retired state employees who propose procedures or ideas that are subsequently adopted and placed in effect and result in eliminating or reducing state expenditures or improving state operations; and

WHEREAS, Any award granted under Section 19823 of the Government Code in excess of $5,000 must be approved by concurrent resolution of the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, As described below, three individuals should be awarded for their effective, cost-saving ideas; and

WHEREAS, The Case Record Unit of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is responsible for calculating the release dates of convicted offenders serving prison time. The information is recorded on a calculation form. The unit was using the Offender Based Information System (OBIS), which was developed in the 1970s, as a primary automated system for storing offender data. However, OBIS was not able to automatically factor in the new sentencing laws enacted in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, Court decisions complicated the release date calculations for violent and habitual offenders. Approximately 30,000 cases had to be recalculated. For each record, staff had to manually perform 9-12 calculations and 23-31 entries using paper, pencil, and a desk calculator. A miscalculated offender release date was the serious consequence of any error; and

WHEREAS, Andrew Brown, a Correctional Officer and Permanent Intermittent Correctional Case Records Analyst, suggested that CDCR automate the Earliest Possible Release Date and the Minimum Eligible Parole Date. Mr. Brown created an Excel spreadsheet that simplified the process of calculating release dates, reduced the chance of error, and created a more professional document. This suggestion reduced the possibility of errors and increased productivity; and

WHEREAS, The annual savings to CDCR in staff time was $133,198. Mr. Browns approved award was $26,640. Mr. Brown has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Mr. Brown the $21,640 balance. This idea has not only improved efficiency at CDCR, it also safeguards the citizens of California from the possible erroneous release of a violent offender; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) mails a consumer guide monthly to Medi-Cal beneficiaries to help them choose the best health care plan for themselves and their families. The comparison charts in the County of Sacramento and the County of San Diego guides were four pages and each guide weighed two ounces; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Simpson, a Staff Information Systems Analyst with DHCS, suggested reformatting the two guides. The reformatting reduced the mailing weight of each guide from two ounces to one and also reduced the printing costs. As a result of these reductions, DHCS realized an annual cost savings of $48,233.36. Ms. Simpsons award was $9,646.67. Ms. Simpson has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Ms. Simpson the $4,646.67 balance for this idea; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wayne Stalie, an Equipment Maintenance Supervisor at CDCR, suggested 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. CDCR recently noted that the two institutions have continued to save money with this resourceful idea; and

WHEREAS, The documented first year savings were $434,226. Mr. Stalies approved award was $43,423. Mr. Stalie has received the initial $5,000 and this resolution is needed to award Mr. Stalie the $38,423 balance; and

WHEREAS, The savings generated by implementation of these suggestions will continue to be realized on an annual basis; and

WHEREAS, As a result of actual savings generated from the implementation of these suggestions, it is unnecessary to appropriate additional funds for payment of awards to these employees; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby declares that merit award payments, authorized by the five-member Merit Award Board and the Department of Human Resources, are hereby made in amounts up to and including 10 or 20 percent of the first-year savings generated by each suggestion, as follows:

(a)To Andrew Brown in the amount of $21,640.

(b)To Kathleen Simpson in the amount of $4,646.67.

(c)To Wayne Stalie in the amount of $38,423; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Controller and to the Department of Human Resources.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: ACR 98

Author:

:

Vote: 21

SENATE PUBLIC EMP. & RET. COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/11/16

AYES: Pan, Morrell, Beall, Hall, Moorlach

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/11/16

AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza, Nielsen

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 1/27/16 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: California Department of Human Resources

DIGEST: This resolution authorizes the payment of monetary state merit awards to state employees whose ideas or work products result in exceptional contributions or budgetary savings in state government.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Authorizes the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to make merit awards to current or retired state employees who:
   1. 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.
      
   2. Perform special acts or special services in the public interest.
      
   3. 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.
   

This resolution authorizes the payment of state merit awards approved by 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 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.

Background

This resolution states that the savings generated by these ideas will continue to be realized on an annual basis, and due to actual savings already generated by implementation of these suggestions, no appropriation of additional funds is necessary to pay the awards to these employees.

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 Legislature."

Related/Prior Legislation

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)

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this resolution authorizes the payment of $64,709.67 to three state employees. Awards are paid by the individual departments from the savings generated from implementation of the award recipients’ respective suggestions. No appropriation of additional funds is necessary.

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/11/16)

California Department of Human Resources (source)

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/11/16)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to CalHR, “The Merit Award program is an excellent vehicle for acknowledging, recognizing, and rewarding the outstanding efforts of creative and innovative state employees. Since 1950, Merit Award Board implemented suggestions have saved the state over $95 million and these savings are on-going.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 1/27/16

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins

NO VOTE RECORDED: Mathis

Prepared by:

8/12/16 13:58:03

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular Session

ACR 98 (Beth Gaines) - State employee merit awards

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

ACR 98 would authorize the payment of State Merit Awards approved by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to three state employees in two departments whose proposals resulted in the reduction of state expenditures or improvement in state operations.

Fiscal Impact:

The resolution would authorize the payment of $64,709.67 to three state employees. Awards are paid by the individual departments from the savings generated from implementation of the award recipients’ respective suggestions. No appropriation of additional funds is necessary.

Background:

Current law authorizes CalHR to make merit awards to current or retired state employees who (1) 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, (2) perform special acts or special services in the public interest, or (3) by their superior accomplishments, make exceptional contributions to the efficiency, economy or other improvement in the operations of the state government. The awards are made pursuant to standards and procedures established by CalHR.

Current law authorizes awards to be paid from the appropriation available to the impacted state agency, and requires that any award over $5,000 have legislative approval.

Proposed Law: This bill would authorize the payment of state merit awards approved by 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:

• A payment of $21,640 to an employee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), for suggesting that the department 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. Automating this process has resulted in annual savings to the State of $133,198. The employee’s award totals $26,640, $5,000 of which has already been paid.
• A payment of $4,646.67 to 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. The employee’s award totals $9,646.67, $5,000 of which has ready been paid.
• A payment of $38,423 to 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. The employee’s award totals $43,423, $5,000 of which has already been paid.

Related Legislation: ACR 61 (Gaines, Chapter 138, Statutes of 2013), ACR 178 (Niello, Chapter 159, Statutes of 2010), and ACR 116 (Blakeslee, Chapter 85, Statutes of 2006) are examples of concurrent resolutions authorizing previous awards made to state employees.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT

Dr. Richard Pan, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular

Bill No: ACR 98 Hearing Date: 4/11/16

Subject: State employee merit awards

SOURCE: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)

ASSEMBLY VOTES:

DIGEST: This resolution authorizes the payment of monetary state merit awards to state employees whose ideas or work products result in exceptional contributions or budgetary savings in state government.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Authorizes CalHR to make merit awards to current or retired state employees who:
   1. 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.
      
   2. Perform special acts or special services in the public interest.
      
   3. 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.
   

This bill 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 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.

Background

The bill states that the savings generated by these ideas will continue to be realized on an annual basis, and due to actual savings already generated by implementation of these suggestions, no appropriation of additional funds is necessary to pay the awards to these employees.

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 Legislature."

Related/Prior Legislation

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)

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Yes Local:

SUPPORT:

California Department of Human Resources (source)

OPPOSITION:

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:

According to CalHR, “The Merit Award program is an excellent vehicle for acknowledging, recognizing, and rewarding the outstanding efforts of creative and innovative state employees. Since 1950, Merit Award Board implemented suggestions have saved the state over $95 million and these savings are on-going.”

Date of Hearing: January 21, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Jimmy Gomez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 98

Author:(Beth Gaines) – As Introduced Ver:July 16, 2015

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This Resolution authorizes the payment of State Merit Awards approved by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to three state employees in various departments whose proposals resulted in the reduction of state expenditures or improvement in state operations.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Authorizes the payment of $64,709.67 to three state employees. Awards are paid by the individual departments from the savings generated from implementation of the award recipients’ respective suggestions.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. Existing law authorizes CalHR to grant awards to public employees whose proposals result in state savings. Awards in excess of $5,000 must be approved by the Legislature. Each of the three recipients named in this resolution has been paid $5,000. This resolution authorizes payment of the remaining balances of the awards.
2. Background. The State Merit Award Program provides cash and honorary awards to state employees who propose ideas that result in savings, efficiencies, or safety improvements to a state program. Under the program, administered by CalHR, when a suggestion is implemented and results in savings, the employee (or employees) may be eligible to receive up to 20% of the savings captured in the first year. Awards of up to $5,000 may be paid by departments, and awards in excess of $5,000 must be approved by the Legislature.

According to CalHR, the state merit award program has proven to be an effective program for taxpayers. This resolution recognizes individuals whose combined suggestions have resulted in a first year savings to the state of $615,657.

1. Prior legislation. 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

Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081