FY 2016 Appropriation

Operations and Policy is the main line item for the department. It houses the various programs that comprise much of the agency. These include:

  • Child Care Assistance
  • Nutrition Assistance
  • Workforce Development
  • Workforce Investment Act Assistance
  • Eligibility Services
  • Information Technology
  • Workforce Research and Analysis
  • Facilities and Pass-Through
  • Refugee Assistance
  • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
  • Trade Adjustment Act Assistance
  • Other Assistance
  • All Other Programs
Funding History
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $723,323,300 from all sources for Operations and Policy. This is a 2.2 percent reduction from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $47,732,300 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 3.4 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Achieving a Better Life Experience Program and Tax Credits$228,000 ($176,500)
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$67,300$0General Fund
$0 ($15,800)General Fund, One-time
$160,700 ($160,700)Dedicated Credits Revenue
Enactment of this bill could reduce revenue to the Education Fund by $187,000 in FY 2017. Enactment of this legislation may cost the Department of Workforce Services $128,000 in FY 2016 and $306,100 in FY 2017 for development and ongoing implementation of the newly created Achieving a Better Life Experience Program.
Affordable Care Act Mandatory Changes ($1,507,000) ($83,800)
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
($753,500)$0General Fund
$0 ($41,900)General Fund, One-time
($753,500) ($41,900)Federal Funds
Workforce Services received $1,800,000 in ongoing funding for 43 FTEs to handle forecasted increased Medicaid enrollment of 35,300 due to mandatory changes in federal health care reform that expands Medicaid eligibility for children. As of October 2014 the Department indicated that it has hired 23 FTEs. The Department estimates a need for 25 FTEs to handle the approximately 6,400 new Medicaid clients due to mandatory expansion. This reduction takes away the ongoing funding for the remaining 18 FTEs The Legislature can chose to make any reduction and subsequent use contingent upon actual savings realized via intent language.
ARRA Adjustments$1,800,000$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$1,800,000$0Unemployment Compensation Fund
The Legislature expressed interest in reviewing the federal stimulus or American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) money separate from the annual review of federal funds.
Career and Technical Education Comprehensive Study$18,300$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$18,300$0General Fund
Enactment of this legislation likely will not materially impact state revenue. Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Workforce Services $18,300 ongoing from the General Fund beginning in FY 2016 to staff the Career and Technical Education Board. Enactment of this legislation could also cost the Legislature $500 each year for travel and per diem to attend CTE Board meetings. This cost can be absorbed within existing budgets..
Nonlapsing Balance Transfer$0$100,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$100,000Beginning Nonlapsing
No Description
Reallocation of Dedicated Credits ($54,700) ($54,700)
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
($54,700) ($54,700)Dedicated Credits Revenue
Transfer $54,700 for FY 2015 and FY 2016 as a technical reallocation between line items in the Department of Workforce Services for dedicated credit funds. The transfer is from the Eligibility Services program in the Operations and Policy line item to Administration Line item as follows: 1) $7,700 to the Executive Director's Office, 2) $2,900 to the Communications Unit, 3) $10,900 to the Human Resources Unit, 4) $31,300 to the Administrative Support, and 5) $1,900 to the Internal Audit Unit for a transfer total of $54,700. Explanation: The Department of Workforce Services "uses an approved cost allocation plan to allocate indirect costs to the programs benefited by the costs. Some of the indirect costs in the Administration line item are allocated to programs funded at least in part with dedicated credits from revenue contracts. However, there is not enough dedicated credit authority in the Administration line item to pay for all of the indirect costs allocated to these revenue contract programs. This request would transfer funds to where indirect costs are allocated to programs funded by the dedicated credits. This will not change operations or programs. The transfer will allow the department to use the appropriate funding for these allocated costs."
SAEA Special Admin Fund Technical Reallotment Adjustment$0 ($100,000)
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0 ($100,000)GFR - Special Administrative Expense
Technical Reallotment of Special Admin Expense Account funds
Special Administrative Expense Account$5,000,000$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$5,000,000$0GFR - Special Administrative Expense
Funding will be used for a DWS request of $6.0 million from the Special Administrative Expense Account - $1.0 million of which is required to pay interest to use this funding for non-unemployment related items - to increase job-growth programs.
Supplemental Fed Funds Adj - Workforce Services$0$14,438,600
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$14,438,600Federal Funds
Supplemental Federal Funds Request The FY 2015 supplemental federal funds request of $14,438,600 for the Department of Workforce Services was inadvertently excluded from the "Federal Funds Department of Workforce Services" Issue Brief. As a result, the supplemental request was not included in the Social Services Subcommittee motion #1C which authorized the use of federal funds for the department. The FY 2015 supplemental federal funds amount was included on page 4 of the "Workforce Services TANF Funds" Issue Brief which was reviewed by the Social Services Subcommittee during the base budget review. In addition, the department's planned increase in TANF spending for FY 2015 has been discussed several times in interim subcommittee meetings. We respectfully request the Executive Appropriations Committee consider a motion authorizing the use of the supplemental federal funds for FY 2015 for the Department of Workforce Services. The breakout for the supplemental federal funds request is shown below. Detail Breakout To Department of Workforce Services - Operations and Policy (NJBA) From Federal Funds 14,438,600 Schedule of Programs: Eligibility Services (NJP) 5,054,000 Refugee Assistance (NJG) 2,188,600 Temporary Assistance to Needy Facilities (NJF) 7,196,000
Weber County Youth Impact - TANF Funding$0$35,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$35,000Federal Funds
The Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee passed the following, motion: "Increase the authorization for TANF funding for the Weber County Youth Impact Program by $5,000 (from the current $25,000 up to $30,000) for both FY 2015 and FY 2016 and include the increased authorization of $5,000 in the FY 2015 supplemental appropriations bill and the FY 2016 new supplemental appropriations bill."
Staff Analysis

DWS Operations and Policy Funding by Unit

Workforce Services Operations and Policy Line Item FTEs

Average Quarterly Job Placements

Average Quarterly Job Placements

Statute

Primary statutory authority for the Operations and Policy line item is derived from UCA 35A UCA 35A-1-206 creates the State Council on Workforce Services.The council annually develops a state workforce services plan to take consumer and public feedback, project the workforce needs of employers and clients, establish policy standards in programs to ensure statewide program consistency, and establish state outcome-based standards for measuring program performance. UCA 35A-3 provides for employment assistance for eligible persons including, stabilization, assessment, training, or placement. This includes the provision of public assistance programs and cooperating with the federal government in the administration of public assistance programs.

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 84

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code the Legislature intends that up to $3,100,000 of the appropriations provided for the Operation and Policy line item in Item 30 of Chapter 13 Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to computer equipment and software and one-time projects associated with addressing client services due to caseload growth or refugee services.

HB0003: Item 84

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code the Legislature intends that up to $2,500,000 of the appropriations provided for the Operation and Policy line item in Item 75 of Chapter 282 Laws of Utah 2014 for the Special Administrative Expense Account not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any non-lapsing funds is limited to employment development projects and activities or one-time projects associated with client services.

SB0002: Item 77

All General Funds appropriated to the Department of Workforce Services - Operations and Policy line item are contingent upon expenditures from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1, 111th United States Congress) not exceeding amounts appropriated from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in all appropriation bills passed for Fiscal Year 2016. If expenditures in the Operations and Policy line item from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act exceed amounts appropriated to the Operations and Policy line item from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Fiscal Year 2016, the Division of Finance shall reduce the General Fund allocations to the Operations and Policy line item by one dollar for every one dollar in Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expenditures that exceed Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriations.

SB0002: Item 77

The Legislature intends the Department of Workforce Services and the Administrative Offices of the Courts provide a report to the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst no later than September 1, 2015. The report shall include, at a minimum: 1) a summary of efforts to improve coordination between the Drug Court program and DWS' Workforce Development Division in order to improve Drug Court success, 2) data indicating the success of the efforts including the implementation and reporting on measures of post program recidivism, and 3) any identified savings or additional funding of drug court recipients as a result of improved coordination efforts.

SB0002: Item 77

The Legislature intends that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriation provided for the Operations and Policy line item is limited to one-time projects associated with Unemployment Insurance modernization.

SB0003: Item 17

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $2,000,000 of savings above $7,392,800 from savings from Savings from Higher Federal Match Rate not lapse at the close of FY 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to upgrading technology and phone systems to voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) in FY 2016.

SB0003: Item 17

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $350,000 of savings above $753,500 from savings from Affordable Care Act Mandatory Changes not lapse at the close of FY 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to upgrading technology and phone systems to voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) in FY 2016.

SB0003: Item 17

The Legislature intends that the $100,000 in Beginning Nonlapsing provided to the Department of Workforce Services - Operations and Policy line item is dependent upon up to $100,000 funds not otherwise designated as nonlapsing to the Workforce Services - Housing and Community Development line item being retained as nonlapsing in FY 2015.

SB0003: Item 17

The $5,000 in federal funds appropriated for the Weber County Youth Impact program in Department of Workforce Services in the Operations and Policy line item is dependent upon the availability of and qualification for the the Weber County Youth Impact program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal funds.

SB0003: Item 17

The $30,000 in federal funds appropriated for the Weber County Youth Impact program in Department of Workforce Services in the Operations and Policy line item is dependent upon the availability of and qualification for the the Weber County Youth Impact program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal funds.

SB0003: Item 125

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $2,000,000 of savings above $7,392,800 from savings from Savings from Higher Federal Match Rate not lapse at the close of FY 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to upgrading technology and phone systems to voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) in FY 2016.

SB0003: Item 125

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $350,000 of savings above $753,500 from savings from Affordable Care Act Mandatory Changes not lapse at the close of FY 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to upgrading technology and phone systems to voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) in FY 2016.

SB0003: Item 125

The Legislature intends that the $100,000 in Beginning Nonlapsing provided to the Department of Workforce Services - Operations and Policy line item is dependent upon up to $100,000 funds not otherwise designated as nonlapsing to the Workforce Services - Housing and Community Development line item being retained as nonlapsing in FY 2015.

SB0003: Item 125

The $5,000 in federal funds appropriated for the Weber County Youth Impact program in Department of Workforce Services in the Operations and Policy line item is dependent upon the availability of and qualification for the the Weber County Youth Impact program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal funds.

SB0003: Item 125

The $30,000 in federal funds appropriated for the Weber County Youth Impact program in Department of Workforce Services in the Operations and Policy line item is dependent upon the availability of and qualification for the the Weber County Youth Impact program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal funds.

SB0007S01: Item 8

The Legislature intends the Department of Workforce Services provide to the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst no later than September 1, 2015 a detailed report on its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reserve amount including the current balance and any uses of the reserve since the 2015 General Session or planned and projected uses of the reserve in the future.

SB0007S01: Item 8

The Legislature intends that the Department of Workforce Services report on the following performance measures for the Operations and Policy line item: (1) Labor Exchange - Total job placements (Target = 50,000 placements per calendar quarter), (2) TANF Recipients - positive closure rate (Target = 70% per calendar month), and (3) Eligibility Services - internal review compliance accuracy (Target = 95%) by January 1, 2016 to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

SB0007S01: Item 20

The Legislature intends the Department of Workforce Services provide to the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst no later than September 1, 2015 a detailed report on its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reserve amount including the current balance and any uses of the reserve since the 2015 General Session or planned and projected uses of the reserve in the future.

SB0007S01: Item 20

The Legislature intends that the Department of Workforce Services report on the following performance measures for the Operations and Policy line item: (1) Labor Exchange - Total job placements (Target = 50,000 placements per calendar quarter), (2) TANF Recipients - positive closure rate (Target = 70% per calendar month), and (3) Eligibility Services - internal review compliance accuracy (Target = 95%) by January 1, 2016 to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

DWS assesses costs incurred to each program through a process called cost allocation. Certain costs of the department benefit specific funding programs. In these cases the costs are directly charged to the appropriate funding. In other situations, specific DWS expenditures benefit multiple funding programs. Many individual employees work with customers benefiting from various programs. Instead of each of these individuals keeping track of what programs they worked during what times, the department measures the work they do on each program using Random Moment Time Sampling (RMTS). The RMTS sample sizes provide a 95% confidence level. Direct charge data and RMTS data are both used to determine the cost allocation of administrative expenditures. The RMTS cost allocation system is intended to accomplish several goals, including:

  • Provide a means of tracking time and effort that is simple and efficient for employees
  • Improve the precision of time reporting
  • Obtain compliance with requirements of federal OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Government
  • Appropriately allocate costs to programs/activities that are measured by the RMTS.

The RMTS system utilizes an electronic database to measure time and effort. As implied by the system name, a sample of employees is randomly asked to input details of the program on which they are working at any particular moment. These data are then utilized to more accurately allocate costs across programs.

For analysis of current budget requests and discussion of issues related to this budget click here.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.