Bill Text - SB582 (2018)

(New Title) authorizing an assessment to determine appropriate caseload and workload standards for the division for children, youth and families; establishing additional child protection services positions in the division for children, youth and families; relative to foster care and adoption programs and services; and making appropriations therefor.


Revision: Jan. 17, 2018, 8:48 a.m.

SB 582-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2018 SESSION

18-2894

05/10

 

SENATE BILL 582-FN

 

AN ACT relative to caseload standards for child protective service workers in the department of health and human services.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Rep. M. McCarthy, Hills. 29; Rep. Morrison, Rock. 9; Rep. Bove, Rock. 5; Rep. Guthrie, Rock. 13; Rep. Rosenwald, Hills. 30

 

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes caseload standards for child protective service workers in the department of health and human services.  The bill also establishes a quarterly reporting requirement and a procedure for funding additional caseworkers in the event that caseload limitations are exceeded.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2894

05/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to caseload standards for child protective service workers in the department of health and human services.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Subdivision; Child Protective Services.  Amend RSA 170-G by inserting after section 19 the following new subdivision:

Child Protective Services

170-G:20  Child Protective Service Workers; Caseload Limitations.

I.  The department shall ensure that it maintains staffing levels of child protective service workers so that each office has enough child protective service workers to allow caseloads to be at not more than:

(a)  Twelve active cases per assessment child protective service worker.

(b)  Ten active cases per family service child protective service worker.

II.  The department may establish caseload limitations that are less than the standards established in this section by administrative rule or as otherwise collectively bargained by using a weighted formula that takes into account various factors that include, but are not limited to, the complexity, specialization, or number of children or placements per case.

170-G:21  Child Protective Services; Process for Budgeting.  Each biennium, the commissioner, in consultation with the relevant employee representatives, shall develop projections of the number of child abuse and neglect cases and shall include in the department's budget request a specific appropriation for the funds and positions necessary to provide an adequate number of child protective service workers to meet the caseload limitations established in RSA 170-G:20.

170-G:22  Reporting to the Governor and Legislature.  The department shall submit a quarterly report to the governor and the fiscal committee of the general court, that provides data and statistical information regarding caseloads of child protective service workers and the extent to which the department is meeting the established caseload limitations established in this subdivision.  The report also shall:

I.  Indicate the department's progress in recruiting, training, and retaining child protective service workers.

II.  Describe the methodology used to compute caseloads for each child protective service worker.

III.  Indicate whether the statewide average caseloads for child protective service workers exceed the caseload standards established by the department.

IV.  If the report indicates that average caseloads exceed caseload standards, include a written plan that indicates the steps that are being taken to reduce caseloads.

V.  Identify, describe, and, if appropriate, recommend best management practices and resources required to achieve effective and efficient delivery of child protection services.

170-G:23  Procedure for Addressing Unmet Caseload Limitations.  If the department does not meet the required caseload limitations per child protective service worker established in RSA 170-G:20 as indicated in the quarterly report to the governor and fiscal committee, the commissioner shall fund the necessary number of positions in order to come into compliance with this subdivision.  The amount necessary to fund the positions is hereby appropriated to the department and the governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.  The commissioner also may seek the approval of the fiscal committee to transfer or accept funds in order to meet the requirements of this subdivision.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBAO

18-2894

1/12/18

 

SB 582-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to caseload standards for child protective service workers in the department of health and human services.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

   Appropriation

$3,275,440

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$5,287,920

$5,287,920

$5,287,920

$5,287,920

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Federal Funds

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes caseload standards for child protective service workers within the Department of Health and Human Services.  In addition, the bill establishes a quarterly reporting requirement and, if the report indicates that average caseloads exceed those established by the bill, requires the commissioner to fund the number of positions necessary to come into compliance with the standard.  The bill makes a general fund appropriation for the amount needed to fund any necessary positions.

 

The Department states that complying with the caseload standards established by the bill would necessitate hiring 54 new assessment workers, 16 new family service workers, and 10 new supervisors, at the following costs:   

 

 

General Funds

Federal Funds

Total

54 new assessment workers:

 

 

 

Cost per CPSW I, LG18, including salary, benefits, and equipment

 $      39,801

 $      24,447

 $      64,248

Total cost:

 $  2,149,254

 $  1,320,138

 $  3,469,392

 

 

 

 

16 new family service workers:

 

 

 

Cost per CPSW I, LG18, Including salary, benefits, and equipment

 $      39,801

 $      24,447

 $      64,248

Total:

 $     636,816

 $     391,152

 $  1,027,968

 

 

 

 

10 new supervisors:

 

 

 

Cost per Supervisor IV, Including salary, benefits, and equipment

 $      48,937

 $      30,119

 $      79,056

Total:

 $     489,370

 $     301,190

 $     790,560

 

 

 

 

Total cost for all positions:

 $  3,275,440

 $  2,012,480

 $  5,287,920

 

 

Based on the above, the bill would result in a general fund appropriation of $3,275,440 in FY19, and would increase general fund expenditures by the same amount in each year thereafter.  General fund appropriations beyond FY19 would presumably be contained within the operating budget for each year, but the bill would allow a general fund appropriation for any needed position not funded by the operating budget.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services