Date: 01/30/2006
Final
Presentation from the Department of Labor and Employment
COMMITTEE ON JOINT BUSINESS AFFAIRS & LABOR
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| <none> | <none> |
02:04 PM -- Presentation from the Department of Labor and Employment
Rick Grice, Maryanne Whiteside, and Dick Piper, Department of Labor and Employment, distributed a handout entitled "Colorado Department of Labor and Employment" (Attachment E). Mr. Grice discussed the Division of Employment and Training and what the office does. He explained the fall of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance over the last few years. There was discussion that followed about whether the trust fund balance is adequate to cover the unemployment costs. Mr. Grice stated it is adequate to cover the projected unemployment rate, but not for another disaster such as September 11. He explained that the department is responsible to go after overpayments and fraud cases. Mr. Grice explained the department's Workforce Centers, and how many employees were placed in a job as a result of the Workforce Centers. He stated 60,000 people were placed into jobs. Mr. Grice responded to additional questions about the Workforce Centers.
02:18 PM
Maryanne Whiteside, Division of Workers' Compensation, gave a brief description of the various responsibilities of the division: customer service, statistical and policy research, medical service delivery, insurance coverage, premium cost containment, and special funds. Ms. Whiteside went through the missions and goals of the division. Representative Butcher asked for clarification on the reduction of medical costs: is it from prevention or the reduction of medical care quality. Ms. Whiteside explained that in Colorado there has been a decline in the number of cases reported. She discussed the fee schedule for medical bills.
02:27 PM
Representative Butcher asked for clarification on the savings shown in the handout from the Major Medical and Subsequent Injury Fund listed in the handout (Attachment E). Ms. Whiteside stated the savings are due to the fact that both the funds no longer exist.
02:31 PM
Committee discussion followed about the number of written wage claims that come into the office, and the number of actual investigations that followed those claims. Also, what the percent is of claims that result in a recovery. There was a committee discussion with regards to whether the Division of Labor is giving legal advice to certain law firms. The committee requested someone from the department return at a later date to discuss that issue.
02:40 PM
Mr. Grice stated that it is not his intention to favor the worker over the employer, and that treatment is fair and balanced. Dick Piper, Head of the Division of Oil and Public Safety, gave a brief overview of the programs overseen by the Division: boiler inspection program, liquified petroleum gas program, explosives program, carnivals and amusement parks, public schools program, field inspection program, and the petroleum storage tank fund section. There was committee discussion that followed about the removal of petroleum tanks. Mr. Piper stated that that program was completed successfully. He added that there is no requirement to remove old tanks due to their age, only a requirement to remove them if the tank is no longer used.