File name: JAC Budget Hearings FY 13-14_20111209_121758.dcr Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\HAppropriations\Desktop\Recordings 0 ~ 12/9/2011 12:21:32 PM ~ 6 ~ 12/9/2011 12:21:38 PM ~ Workforce Services, Agency 053, Joan Evans, Director 29 ~ 12/9/2011 12:22:01 PM ~ Nicholas: Welcome 2:02 ~ 12/9/2011 12:23:34 PM ~ Evans: Present our budget and give informaton about where we are. It has been a busy year with reorganization. Able to do this without additional appropriations. It has been a great effort -- grass roots. Any staff had input on the agency... Externally set values: customer service... Like tointroduce staff: Osvold, Isebart?, Wickham, Burtis, Buchansas (not here today), Todd, Welker. Customer service main value, collaboration, communication, resepct, integrity... Org structure on p.12 of the book. Biggest change is the employment insurance with Employment and Training services. Many agency teams... Quality Assurance is a group of individuals had responsibilities throughout divisions. Team of individuals that includes policies, grants.. Ask anyone in charge of agency or team meet with this team. State Mine inspector reports to agency. Working continually to find efficiences so that there can be one call to get work done-- work in progress. Handle constiuent complaints and look for other services or pgrams that help them inside and outside the agencies. Seminars for employers... working on regerrals outside... re-employument, -- workers compe... Examples of how made progress. Going live Jan. 1 website ... stidll have to get up internets 9:52 ~ 12/9/2011 12:31:24 PM ~ Wallis: What's the URL Evans: WyomingWorkforce.org 10:27 ~ 12/9/2011 12:31:59 PM ~ Wallis: Relationship with mining inspector. -- how does work with Board of Mines... 10:53 ~ 12/9/2011 12:32:25 PM ~ Evans: If you are talking with Hospital for MIners Board they do not, but with Mining Board it does. Have relationship with Mining Inspector who is appointed by Governor and he is on leadership team... 11:58 ~ 12/9/2011 12:33:30 PM ~ Evans: Page. 16 exception no. 1. Reverting Directors position from department of Workforce Service and increasing spending authority on Federal side Page 31 reducing revenue spending authority ... adjusting that down 13:32 ~ 12/9/2011 12:35:04 PM ~ Evans: Page 38: STate Mining Inspector, respondible for administering exams. During last audit cited for errors in grading the exam. Requesting to bring into technology and test electroniically 14:19 ~ 12/9/2011 12:35:51 PM ~ Evans: Page 60 Increasing spending authority for reorganization in #1 exception 15:00 ~ 12/9/2011 12:36:32 PM ~ Evans: System replacement for unemployment insurance modernization. The system is not very functional.... last session a bill on who is eligible for unemployment. In 2005 funds used to determine how system could be replaced... How to replace and how to fund Dept. Labor issued a guidance letter in July on how to repalce system.. If meet criteria the four states could work together to meet requirements of Dept. Idaho left the group and they had been lead . Deadline was mid August to submit plan. Colorado used $50M for system that failed. Wyoming decide not to take lead and let Colorado take lead. Labor did approve for$59M. The agency frecived money from Reed to replace the system.. This money has used to patch current system.. So are looking at $70M project based upon states cooperation. Need spending authority to send that money out to Colorado who is now the lead. See page 66-67. 19:59 ~ 12/9/2011 12:41:31 PM ~ Nicholas: Woudl take the funds for the project? 20:11 ~ 12/9/2011 12:41:43 PM ~ Evans: Project is for the four states: Nicholas: The $59 M is for the systems. How implement 20:43 ~ 12/9/2011 12:42:15 PM ~ Evans: The $59M is from Dept. of Labor for four states to build the four systems that will include core and then ability to build for each state according to statute 21:36 ~ 12/9/2011 12:43:08 PM ~ Mier: What's the flexibility for maintenance of system 21:49 ~ 12/9/2011 12:43:21 PM ~ Evans: Yes. It will be built. Do a vendor builid that we own or that you own and maintain. Try not to get back sistuation to spend millions to replace the system 22:35 ~ 12/9/2011 12:44:07 PM ~ Mier: Not sure talking about the same thing. He is talking about changes in statute how long to implement and cost. 23:03 ~ 12/9/2011 12:44:35 PM ~ Evans: Now or in the future. 23:11 ~ 12/9/2011 12:44:43 PM ~ Mier: Not new hardward. If we change percentages or rule, if experience rating changes, how hard to calculate or change premisums. 23:52 ~ 12/9/2011 12:45:24 PM ~ Evans: It will be a system that will respond... .Example is contacting individuals in present system is .. a big hill to climb. We are talking a 3-4 year project. 24:55 ~ 12/9/2011 12:46:27 PM ~ Nicholas: Let's talk about the mechanics of this. If we approve the Gov's rec. If want to amend would have to footnote. What you have settled want to do. Governor sends up a letter ...it would be documented in the letter .. 26:13 ~ 12/9/2011 12:47:45 PM ~ Evans: Confusing 26:25 ~ 12/9/2011 12:47:57 PM ~ Evans: The spending authority is to get the money in and back out to Colorado. 26:42 ~ 12/9/2011 12:48:14 PM ~ Nicholas: The guiding principle on page 66 consistent with what intend to do. 27:01 ~ 12/9/2011 12:48:33 PM ~ Evans: It still shows us as lead. 27:12 ~ 12/9/2011 12:48:44 PM ~ Nicholas: Change the narrative and ask Governor letter. Narrative woul d be consistent with own request. 27:44 ~ 12/9/2011 12:49:16 PM ~ Evans: This is a good discussion 27:55 ~ 12/9/2011 12:49:27 PM ~ Nicholas: It is easier ff Gov issues an 11 28:39 ~ 12/9/2011 12:50:11 PM ~ Emonds: Money from the Feds and then authority into Colorado. 29:00 ~ 12/9/2011 12:50:32 PM ~ Nicholas: At end of day, I heard they were using the money for 4 state project. We would go back to budgetary request... it becomes the boundary of the expenditures. If want to change Gov's rec it requires a footnote... need a motion to amend. Once amount is authorized the governor could go through the B11 process. Agencies are bound by their narratives. 30:56 ~ 12/9/2011 12:52:28 PM ~ Nicholas: You will meet with A& I... 31:09 ~ 12/9/2011 12:52:41 PM ~ Evans: $400K for workers compensation system is in upgrade to PowerSuite that will go live in February. The maintenance contract was denied. 31:59 ~ 12/9/2011 12:53:31 PM ~ Evans: Next item on page 81 for $225,710K for new system coming on tractThe next items is hardward associated with PowerSuite . 33:01 ~ 12/9/2011 12:54:33 PM ~ Nicholas: Workers comp... 33:10 ~ 12/9/2011 12:54:42 PM ~ Evans: Authority for spending authorityabove previously approved 33:35 ~ 12/9/2011 12:55:07 PM ~ Evans: The worker comp trust has $1.3M 34:02 ~ 12/9/2011 12:55:34 PM ~ Nicholas: Do you have actuaries 34:13 ~ 12/9/2011 12:55:45 PM ~ Evans: We are solvent good, and take information to determin if make a change in rates. We will not this year. Statute change llast session will be view It is a $1.4 B fund 35:08 ~ 12/9/2011 12:56:40 PM ~ Nicholas: Include investments and equities 35:19 ~ 12/9/2011 12:56:51 PM ~ Evans: Met with Treasurer. Do have latittude in agendcy for sme investments. Loks fine 35:46 ~ 12/9/2011 12:57:18 PM ~ Nicholas: Part of the pool dollars are inviolate 36:16 ~ 12/9/2011 12:57:48 PM ~ Evans: It is my understanding he weas talking about our fund 36:32 ~ 12/9/2011 12:58:04 PM ~ Curtis: Funds invested by Treasuer. 37:01 ~ 12/9/2011 12:58:33 PM ~ 7.48% return last year 37:17 ~ 12/9/2011 12:58:49 PM ~ Evans: Master service agreement CIO on page 83. Lack expertise to work on projects 37:50 ~ 12/9/2011 12:59:22 PM ~ Evans: Page 84. For $225,489 for workers compensation production software. It wraps up exceptions. 38:28 ~ 12/9/2011 1:00:00 PM ~ Mier: Mental note to ask you about workers compe. Amount going how remain the same or change 38:49 ~ 12/9/2011 1:00:21 PM ~ Evans: Information on the number of claimants being filed, 39:11 ~ 12/9/2011 1:00:43 PM ~ Curtis: Fy2009 ... FY2011 is $169M 39:51 ~ 12/9/2011 1:01:23 PM ~ MIer: Trying to figure out trends -- why goign up-- correlations with types of employment 40:35 ~ 12/9/2011 1:02:07 PM ~ Isbar: The death benefit raised, and total disability formula also changed We have seen impact increase cost of Medicare, death bnefit and temporary total disability. 41:37 ~ 12/9/2011 1:03:09 PM ~ Mier: two legislative and one just cost of medical care 41:52 ~ 12/9/2011 1:03:24 PM ~ Isbar: Yes 42:01 ~ 12/9/2011 1:03:33 PM ~ 42:10 ~ 12/9/2011 1:03:42 PM ~ Esquibel:; For Federal funds when talking with spending authority. Does legislature and the governor have to agree. Are there different types of fudns 42:47 ~ 12/9/2011 1:04:19 PM ~ Evans: We recieve a variety of Federal fund sources. We are seeing crippling increase in local workforce... They ahve to have spending authority to bring it in-- acounts for 46% of budget 43:38 ~ 12/9/2011 1:05:10 PM ~ Esquibel: If Congress makes changes and had bill to allow you to access for $35M which we didn't act 44:10 ~ 12/9/2011 1:05:42 PM ~ Evans: That was specifically for changing the eligability. Because not changed at state level could not accept 44:42 ~ 12/9/2011 1:06:14 PM ~ Evans: We are doing nothing. If US> Dpeat. Labor said have $5M to ....we bould ask to b11 funds for unanticipated funds and ask for spending authrotiy 45:38 ~ 12/9/2011 1:07:10 PM ~ Esquibel: It came to us at 11th hour and misunderstanding of what for... problem with length and knowledge... 46:26 ~ 12/9/2011 1:07:58 PM ~ Nicholas: Congress made provision for ... 46:41 ~ 12/9/2011 1:08:13 PM ~ Evans: It had to do with eligibility requirements for dislocated workers... a whole new group would be eligibile to receive benefits. It do not pass out of committee.. 47:27 ~ 12/9/2011 1:08:59 PM ~ Nichoals: Legislature has to set statutory authority for folks to qualify... no state fund and paid all federlly 47:57 ~ 12/9/2011 1:09:29 PM ~ Evans: That particular provision yes 48:06 ~ 12/9/2011 1:09:38 PM ~ Nicholas: Could state choose to become eligigble 48:25 ~ 12/9/2011 1:09:57 PM ~ Evans: Window has passed 48:33 ~ 12/9/2011 1:10:05 PM ~ Nicholas: tiems 48:37 ~ 12/9/2011 1:10:09 PM ~ Evans: State by state 48:44 ~ 12/9/2011 1:10:16 PM ~ Nicholas: Whre are we with respect to options 49:07 ~ 12/9/2011 1:10:39 PM ~ Evans: Claims... Tier III benefits would aleady have had to apply. Taking advantage of the system... 50:11 ~ 12/9/2011 1:11:43 PM ~ Nicholas: We have statutory benefits that mirror federal fundign 50:28 ~ 12/9/2011 1:12:00 PM ~ Evans: Extensions are based on unemployment rate... our status may or may not change with respect to other states 51:09 ~ 12/9/2011 1:12:41 PM ~ Osvold I don't think there are any other opportunites. 52:11 ~ 12/9/2011 1:13:43 PM ~ Hastert If we are 26 weeks, is it statut 52:33 ~ 12/9/2011 1:14:05 PM ~ Osvold That is federal statut 53:02 ~ 12/9/2011 1:14:34 PM ~ Evans I don't think that is state statut, I will check on that. 53:38 ~ 12/9/2011 1:15:10 PM ~ Haster I misunderstood what Mr. Nicholas asked 54:13 ~ 12/9/2011 1:15:45 PM ~ Nicholas any questions 54:23 ~ 12/9/2011 1:15:55 PM ~ Esquibel If this should could come up again 54:47 ~ 12/9/2011 1:16:19 PM ~ Nicholas If funds were become available If the gov B11 the funds, To make a program available via B11 funds 55:48 ~ 12/9/2011 1:17:20 PM ~ Evans It boils down to the will of employement. I would rather work to get people back to work than extending un-employment benefits 56:48 ~ 12/9/2011 1:18:20 PM ~ Meier I think the money 57:09 ~ 12/9/2011 1:18:41 PM ~ Evans That was point of concern 57:23 ~ 12/9/2011 1:18:55 PM ~ Hastert I want to talk about Workers Comp a little bit We have a new director , what is your phlosophy I have spent a lot of time personally I am getting calls from constiuants. Get into some specifiec, what is the case load , now compared. What constitutes a denial. 59:30 ~ 12/9/2011 1:21:02 PM ~ Evans Costomer Service If you have constituants concerned, have them call us. John may be able talk a little more about this. One thing we put into place 6 weeks ago. In statut, you can appeal anything. They work those cases before they go to court. 1:02:20 ~ 12/9/2011 1:23:52 PM ~ Nicholas 1:02:41 ~ 12/9/2011 1:24:13 PM ~ John Speaking about the denial of claims Some times we don't get the records in a timely manner and therefore denial the claims. We now call - several times 1:04:17 ~ 12/9/2011 1:25:49 PM ~ Hastert I think I will hold off and do one on one Some of the areas I would like to look into is how injuries processed. 1:06:11 ~ 12/9/2011 1:27:43 PM ~ Nicholas I don't think those questions are going to help with the budget process. 1:06:41 ~ 12/9/2011 1:28:13 PM ~ Evans Thank you for the opportunity. 1:09:40 ~ 12/9/2011 1:48:59 PM ~ Water Development Office Agency 29, Mike Purcell 1:10:11 ~ 12/9/2011 1:49:30 PM ~ Nicholas: Mr. Prucell was golfing with Mike McVeyr Take us through your budget 1:10:40 ~ 12/9/2011 1:49:59 PM ~ Purcell Andrea O"Deill is fiscal control office and other duties... Program that invests in states water infrastructure program,,, conduct new and exsiting projects, reabilitation program , dam & reservoir program,. We are STate's water planning agency -- 7 basin wide plans. We also have watershet studies whereby group can come to us to concerntrate... We are agent to manage state's water... Recently have completed the pathfinder modification project... Very sooon complete contract to acquire water in Glendoe reservoir, water for WY_Nebraska lawsuit. Budget summary is on handout. Shows breakdown of series, what budgeted for in 2011/12, ... look for potential savings. In 900 series, instream flow and water research... its for specific issues and money for basin wide planning. If one budget item to do all tasks fo proposed $125K cut. Funds the water resources data system at UW. Prior to budget had director who wore two hats. This budget shows part-time director at UW. If other entities need a climatologist they should seek. Think it is a better operation. A number on this page shows costs for funding climatologist. Gov. accepted exception budget with a reduction in 400 series. Request $8.5M dollars. Do not receive general fund monies 1:18:09 ~ 12/9/2011 1:57:28 PM ~ Nicholas: Take inputed interest of water level III and transfer to water II. 1:18:39 ~ 12/9/2011 1:57:58 PM ~ PUrcell: Handout on porjects. Primarily benefit of rehabiltiation projects is irrigation districts. Try to prioritze improvements and next step projects improve efficiency and reduce maintenace costs. Every year look at distrcits need can only fund 2 year programs. What has happened after a number of years, it is starting to catch up with us. Infusion of funds would get them back up on these irrigations districts. The dollar amount is selected by Governor. It is amount of interst received on water account iii in 2011. 1:20:47 ~ 12/9/2011 2:00:06 PM ~ Nicholas: Pool funds investments? 1:20:55 ~ 12/9/2011 2:00:14 PM ~ Purchell: Yes, they are interst bearing accountss-- mineral royalty income. Enjoy interst on that account and payments on loans made out fo these accounts, also enjoy unexpended project reversions. We have complete status report of accounts 1-111. This is a histroical document since accounts established. Water Develpment Account 1 can see revenues from general fund. taxes, loans and interest. Use as a planning tool for how to allocated to projects. Suggest to you that anticipated revenues in future years, we are conservative. Water account one $72.4 M., account II $14.8M and account III is $126.1M. 1:23:45 ~ 12/9/2011 2:03:04 PM ~ Nicholas: It has been generally been desire to add to account III. Concern toa dd to account ii. What are the projects on the horizon for water . 1:24:25 ~ 12/9/2011 2:03:44 PM ~ Prucell: Water account III is for dams and reservoirs. Havd 8-10 candidates for projects typically located on tributaries. Have come from watershed plans....I would say that things costs $30-35M apieces. Problem is generating the partnership of water users. Think program would be coming to you in the near future. Director of this division is testing technical feasabiliity of these and environmentally respondible. Select water Committee if could get with these partners. Could recommend favorable financing of these projects. ...Could use money over the next 5-10 years. 1:27:19 ~ 12/9/2011 2:06:38 PM ~ Nicholas: What kind of budget that we are working towards-- $180-200M dollars estimate for the projects he noted. 1:27:46 ~ 12/9/2011 2:07:05 PM ~ Purcell: This legislature favors storage. Could you give spreadsheet on projects under investigation. What are we going to do, why building the accounts, ... and what dream giving up. Give us a range for projects and timeframe even if wishful. Let's put together a piicture. 1:29:02 ~ 12/9/2011 2:08:21 PM ~ Prucell: Some good estimates and wags. 1:29:13 ~ 12/9/2011 2:08:32 PM ~ Mier: We had estimate a few years ago of deferred maintenance and it was $900M. It was structures breaking out and keeping up with emergency. Any updated stuff? 1:30:45 ~ 12/9/2011 2:10:04 PM ~ Purcell: This is working good. It is there recommendation that there is a 10 mill infusion in Account #2 1:31:29 ~ 12/9/2011 2:10:48 PM ~ Nicholas Questions 1:31:37 ~ 12/9/2011 2:10:56 PM ~ Wallis The number that represents the interest. This is a one time deal? How far is this going to get us 1:32:25 ~ 12/9/2011 2:11:44 PM ~ Purcell: I don't want to spend this next year Say 7 mill a year. I'm next saying you are going to see 9 mill. Then there are some municiple projects as well 1:33:42 ~ 12/9/2011 2:13:01 PM ~ Steward Do you have projects ready 1:34:03 ~ 12/9/2011 2:13:22 PM ~ Purcell These are projects that are ready to go. We have a portfilio of 20 water agencies. They come in every other year. 1:35:07 ~ 12/9/2011 2:14:26 PM ~ Steward I asked him about partnership up in Pavilion. He said you were one of those partners 1:35:49 ~ 12/9/2011 2:15:08 PM ~ Purcell We were invited in because they had bad water up there. We looked at a better water system for them Lots of water but sometimes it is poor water quality. Pavillion is located in the middle of an area that has bad water. I would be embarressed to put our names on that report. We are technical assistants to Mr. Cora 1:39:03 ~ 12/9/2011 2:18:21 PM ~ Von Flatern Space rental? That budget comes spcifically from A&I That is our office space. We have the licensing board for engineers. 1:40:36 ~ 12/9/2011 2:19:54 PM ~ Purcell There is a budget item for the gillette/madison pipeline priject. 99131405 gov recomended 23 mil from A&L I updated the sheet. 9903 was...... You will not see an Gillette Bill Progess has lagged a little. Easements are hard to get. The permitting issues can be a problem but not in this situation 1:43:43 ~ 12/9/2011 2:23:02 PM ~ Steward How did we do that 1:43:53 ~ 12/9/2011 2:23:12 PM ~ Purcell We did that in an amendment. 1:44:17 ~ 12/9/2011 2:23:36 PM ~ Purcell The only thing we were instructed to bring was eimployees From 18 to 26 employees 900 series funding mostly to our obligations to US Typically we spend it on technical issues. The commission can use that for knarly situations 1:46:21 ~ 12/9/2011 2:25:40 PM ~ Von Flatern Gillette Madison 1:46:51 ~ 12/9/2011 2:26:10 PM ~ Mai Gillette Madison Pipeline Account 1:47:12 ~ 12/9/2011 2:26:31 PM ~ Von Flatern Stil has old wording 1:47:38 ~ 12/9/2011 2:26:57 PM ~ Nicholas Thank you. 1:47:57 ~ 12/9/2011 2:27:16 PM ~