Bill Text: CA ACR45 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: State employee merit awards.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-09-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 113, Statutes of 2021. [ACR45 Detail]
Download: California-2021-ACR45-Chaptered.html
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 45
CHAPTER 113
Relative to state employee merit awards.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 07, 2021.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 45, Cooper.
State employee merit awards.
This measure would declare that a merit award payment in a specified amount, authorized by the Department of Human Resources, is made to a specified current state employee whose proposal has resulted in annual savings and net revenue gains to the state.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: YESBill Text
WHEREAS, Section 19823 of the Government Code authorizes the Department of Human Resources to make awards to current or retired state employees who propose procedures or ideas that are subsequently adopted and placed in effect and result in eliminating or reducing state expenditures or improving state operations; and
WHEREAS, Any award granted under Section 19823 of the Government Code in excess of $5,000 must be approved by concurrent resolution of the Legislature; and
WHEREAS, The following recipient should be awarded for his effective, cost-saving idea; and
WHEREAS, The State Department of Developmental Services (DDS) provides services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities. Services are provided through state-operated developmental centers and community facilities. The regional centers serve as a local resource to coordinate access to appropriate services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families; and
WHEREAS, The suggester, Mr. Laron J. Russell, from the Respiratory Therapy Department at the Porterville Developmental Center (PDC), suggested using a portable sleep study device to perform in-house sleep studies to determine if a client has a sleep disorder rather than sending the client to an outside facility; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Russell’s suggestion afforded no additional staff to be required because the developmental facilities have respiratory therapists already trained to perform this task. The reports generated would be turned over to the pulmonologist at the facility for evaluation; and
WHEREAS, Certain clients with a violent history may have an in-house study, eliminating the need for a staff member and police officer to accompany and supervise the client to the outside facility. The in-house study would allow the client to be comfortable in their own home, creating a more cooperative environment while the sleep study test is being performed; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Russell is a Respiratory Care Practitioner at the PDC. Mr. Russell did not have the independent authority, nor is it in his job description, to change department policy to perform in-house sleep studies. The PDC implemented this suggestion and realized tangible cost savings for 22 sleep study tests conducted in house; and
WHEREAS, Awards can be up to 20 percent of the savings achieved during the first year of implementation. The calculated first year savings of Mr. Russell’s suggestion were $28,690; Mr. Russell’s approved award is $5,738. The savings generated by implementation of this suggestion will continue to be realized on an annual basis; and
WHEREAS, As a result of actual savings generated from the implementation of this suggestion, it is unnecessary to appropriate additional funds for payment of an award to this employee; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby declares that a merit award payment, authorized by the five-member Merit Award Board and the Department of Human Resources, is hereby made in an amount up to and including 20 percent of the first-year savings generated by the suggestion to Mr. Russell for the amount of $738.60; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Controller and to the Department of Human Resources.
