SB2674 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 18995 JAM 54476 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB2674

Introduced 1/20/2006, by Sen. Deanna Demuzio

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the State Services Assurance Act. Establishes required staffing ratios for specified State agencies that provide essential services. Requires the Departments of Children and Family Services and Veterans' Affairs to convene caseload and workload standards task forces, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to convene a staffing ratio standards task force, to develop standards by January 1, 2007. Requires the Legislative Audit Commission, in consultation with the Auditor General, to schedule audits, to be completed by January 1, 2007, of each executive branch agency under the Governor's authority to determine its staffing level trends. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the State Services Assurance Act.

Section 5. Legislative intent and policy. The General Assembly finds that State government delivers a myriad of services that are necessary for the health, welfare, safety, and quality of life of all Illinois residents.

It is the intent of the General Assembly to monitor staffing levels in all executive branch agencies under the authority of the Governor and to develop a system to ensure the effective delivery of vital State services. To that end, this Act establishes minimum staffing standards in State agencies where lives and public safety are at greatest risk: in facilities operated by the Departments of Corrections and Human Services, and in Department of Human Services Family and Community Resource Centers.

Section 10. Staffing ratios.

(a) The collective average staffing ratio of correctional centers operated by the Department of Corrections shall be at or above 0.295 staff per inmate.

(b) The collective average staffing ratio of mental health centers operated by the Department of Human Services shall be at or above 2.5 staff per patient.

(c) The collective average staffing ratio of developmental centers operated by the Department of Human Services shall be at or above 1.9 staff per resident.

(d) The collective average caseload of employees in Family and Community Resource Centers operated by the Department of Human Services shall be at or below 288 cases.

Section 15. Departmental task forces. The Department of Children and Family Services shall convene a Caseload Standards Task Force. The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall convene a Workload Standards Task Force. The Department of Juvenile Justice shall convene a Staffing Ratio Standards Task Force. Each Task Force shall include an equal number of representatives of the respective Department, labor unions representing Department employees, and advocates. The Department of Children and Family Services Caseload Standards Task Force shall establish reasonable caseload standards for effective child welfare service delivery. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Workload Standards Task Force shall establish reasonable workload standards at facilities operated by the Department. The Department of Juvenile Justice Staffing Ratio Standards Task Force shall establish reasonable staffing ratios at facilities operated by the Department. The work of each Task Force shall be completed on or before January 1, 2007. Each Department shall develop rules implementing the caseload or workload standards.

Section 20. Staffing audits. The Legislative Audit Commission, in consultation with the Auditor General, shall establish a schedule whereby each executive branch agency under the authority of the Governor shall be audited for trends in staffing levels from FY 2000 through FY 2005. Each audit shall analyze staffing levels by division, program, and facility. Each audit shall identify key outcome indicators for each agency including the amount, variety, and quality of programs and services delivered. The indicators shall be selected to accurately reflect agency performance and shall be measurable consistently over time. Each audit shall determine whether staffing changes have impacted agency performance. Each audit shall include a recommendation as to the need to improve staffing where appropriate. All audits shall be conducted before January 1, 2007.

Section 25. Annual reports. Each executive branch agency under the authority of the Governor shall prepare an annual report on staffing levels for the committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate that conduct hearings on its annual budget appropriation. The report shall include at a minimum 5 years of actual and estimated staffing levels by division, program, and facility, staffing ratios if appropriate, and updated reports on the key outcome measures identified in the audits required in Section 20. The reports shall be conveyed to the appropriate committees no later than 6 months after the end of each fiscal year.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.