JFC (really DWD) targets LIRC

Workers compensation administration is NOT being transferred from DWD. The workers compensation ALJs are being moved to the Division of Hearings and Appeals, however.

In unemployment, the Joint Finance Committee is approving an increase in the concealment surcharge to 40%. At present, this surcharge is 15%. The additional 25% will be used for program integrity purposes — i.e., auditing claimants. Additional criminal penalties for concealment are being deleted.

And, for the Labor and Industry Review Commission, a budget cut of $434,900 (out of a total budget of $3,612,000 and a sizable chunk of the Commission’s UI budget), transferring the cut funds to DWD for additional “program integrity,” and making the general counsel a political appointment by the governor:

18. Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC). Transfer the limited administrative attachment for LIRC from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to the Department of Administration (DOA). Further, transfer LIRC’s appropriations to be budgeted separately under Chapter 20 of the appropriation schedule. Reduce LIRC federal unemployment administration funding by $434,900 FED annually and, to the extent allowable under federal unemployment insurance (UI) law, provide these funds for UI program integrity purposes. DWD’s UI administration appropriation would be increased by $434,900 annually to reflect this provision. [Under the motion, LIRC would be attached to DOA under s.15.03 for limited administrative purposes, but would have its own appropriation schedule (currently LIRC is budgeted as a program under DWD). The provision that the Department (currently DWD, DOA under the motion) submit LIRC’s budget to the Governor without change would remain] Additionally, convert 1.0 position from classified to unclassified, and specify the Governor appoint the LIRC general counsel position.

Apparently, this provision is payback for the Commission’s red-flag memos about SSDI and concealment. These budget shenanigans raise obvious questions about how independent the Commission can really be.