Workforce Services Interim Committee
Members Present:
Sen. Robert F. Montgomery, Chair
Rep. Orville D. Carnahan, Chair
Sen. Lorin V. Jones
Sen. Robert M. Muhlestein
Sen. Millie M. Peterson
Rep. Jeff Alexander
Rep. Sheryl L. Allen
Members Absent:
Sen. Blaze D. Wharton
Rep. Margaret Dayton
Rep. J. Brent Haymond
Rep. Steve Barth
Rep. Duane Bourdeaux
Rep. Lloyd W. Frandsen
Rep. Brent H. Goodfellow
Rep. Bryan D. Holladay
Rep. Nora B. Stephens
Staff Present:
Arthur L. Hunsaker,
Research Analyst
R. Chet Loftis,
Associate General Counsel
Barbara A. Teuscher,
Legislative Secretary
Note: Names of others present and copies of information distributed at the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held June 17, 1998-
Chair Carnahan called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.
MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of June 17, 1998 with minor corrections. The motion passed unanimously. Reps. Barth and Holladay were absent for the vote.
2. Staff Report: Current Workforce Services - related federal legislation - Mr. Hunsaker summarized the June 1998 GAO report on welfare reform. He briefly discussed the previous welfare system, the shift among states from entitlement to self-sufficiency, and state efforts to provide support services in lieu of cash assistance and to connect people to employment. He said the report stresses the need for more data to accurately assess the impact of welfare reform on families and children. He briefly evaluated states' implementation. Committee discussion followed.
3. Outcome Measures - Rep. Frandsen introduced the topic of outcome measures and commented that the focus of outcome measures is to make good government; however, they can be complex. He noted there are a number of states that have focused attention on outcome measures.
Mr. Robert Gross, Executive Director, Department of Workforce Services (WFS), distributed a handout from which he gave his presentation. He highlighted seven steps to making the department a customer-based organization: (1) have a vision; (2) implement the vision; (3) smash the barriers; (4) ask employees what we can do for them; (5) review government studies to determine how to handle services in and out of government; (6) establish performance measurements; and (7) consolidate services.
Mr. Curtis Johnson, Deputy Director, Department of Workforce Services, mentioned that it was decided early on that there was a need for a small committee to be created to study measurement systems from all agencies that came into the department. He briefly explained the process and its outcome.
Mr. Ron Ahlstrom, Department of Workforce Services Information/Payment Services, distributed handouts of the department's performance measures. He explained the process used in obtaining data and clarified services to job seekers, employers, and quality and internal measures. He focused on a department survey that compares the result of services given to job seekers by different regions, and their percentages.
Sen. Peterson focused on the central region and expressed concern with the low numbers and percentages indicated. Mr. Gross said the department concurs with Sen. Peterson's comments and that its goal is for individuals to be better off after receiving services.
Rep. Goodfellow asked if the department needs help from the committee to obtain more accurate data? Mr. Gross said there are additional data items that could be accessed to better determine what is going on. He noted the department has the ability to manage a fair amount of data, but the public policy issue is how much data does the Legislature want the department to be responsible for managing?
Mr. Wayne Welsh, Legislative Auditor General, and Mr. James Behunin, Audit Supervisor, addressed the committee. Mr. Welsh explained that to maintain neutrality, his office does not develop measurements or monitoring systems but reviews processes and systems once they have been established and adopted by an agency. Mr. Behunin commented on what the office could contribute to the present issue.
Sen. Montgomery indicated as a matter of public policy that there is a concern with taking tax money and funding state agencies that might compete with private industry.
Mr. Val Finlayson, Utah Partnership for Educational and Economic Development, Inc., and Mr. Max Lowe, Assistant Commissioner Academic Affairs, Board of Regents, addressed the committee. Handouts were distributed to committee members. Mr. Finlayson said educational institutions are interested in gathering workforce data, including job title and salary information,
to measure outcomes. A workforce initiative was proposed, and his group will soon submit a
report to the governor.
Rep. Allen interjected there have been concerns in Utah and other states regarding the
gathering of workforce data and how much time and effort are required for businesses to comply.
She asked Mr. Larry Bunkall, President, Utah Manufactures' Association, to respond. Mr. Bunkall
acknowledged that this concept in bill form has died many times and that government is driving
the issue. He referred to costs in gathering the information, questioned its importance, and
expressed concern that government may continue to require more and more information.
Mr. Bryan Moss, President and Executive Director, Utah Life Science Association, said
industry does not like answering to new demands for data collection because it is a nuisance, but
felt that in the case of job title and salary information the benefits would probably outweigh
concerns to the extent that collection was efficient.
Rep. Frandsen said there is an opportunity to create a win-win situation in working with
employers. He emphasized the need to get together and explore various ways to approach the
issue and then come back to the committee with recommendations. Committee discussion
followed.
MOTION: Rep. Goodfellow made a motion that interested parties get together to look at ways to simplify the various forms employers are required to use, in gathering the information
that is needed, and report back to the committee. The motion passed unanimously. Reps. Barth
and Holladay were absent for the vote.
Mr. Rand Johnson, Salt Lake Community College, distributed a handout to the committee.
He indicated there are ways to mitigate some of Mr. Bunkell's concerns regarding privacy. He
suggested the department set-up barriers that would make it impossible for individually
identifying information to be accessed by educational institutions.
Ms. Karen Silver, Salt Lake Community Action Program, commented on the regional
survey and said not all job seekers who are being served by WFS were part of the survey question.
Problems in data collection may explain the exclusion.
Ms. Pat Nielsen, State Public Policy Chair, American Association for University Women, informed committee members as to what is happening with the FEP program recipients and the
relationship it has with the department.
Mr. Chet Loftis distributed handouts from which he gave his presentation. The task he
was given was to see what other western states are doing in terms of legislative process to try and
make it easier to measure outcomes. He discussed bill summaries and committee reports
containing summaries of bills. He explained how bill summaries might help with outcome
measures by giving policy makers more information as they debate bills and give executive
branch agencies more information as to what is expected of them. Mr. Loftis highlighted
examples from other states.
Note: A copy of Mr. Loftis's handout is on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
MOTION: Rep. Frandsen moved to refer this issue to the Legislative Process Committee. The motion passed unanimously. Sen. Jones and Rep. Barth were absent for the
vote.
MOTION: Rep. Allen moved for the committee to formally commend the department for its development of outcome measures. The motion passed unanimously. Sen Jones and Rep. Barth were absent for the vote.
4. Adjourn - Rep. Goodfellow moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. The motion passed unanimously.
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