HB 6344 — AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE UNEMPLOYED WORKERS' ADVOCATE.

GeneralHouse Assemblyof CommitteeRepresentatives BillFile No.

6344725 General Assembly January Session, 20212021(Reprint LCOof File No.

5726428) ReferredHouse toBill CommitteeNo. on LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES Introduced by:

(LAB)6344 As Amended by House Amendment Schedule "A" Approved by the Legislative Commissioner May 26, 2021 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE UNEMPLOYED WORKERS' ADVOCATE.

(3) Provide information to the public, state agencies, legislators and othersHB6344 regarding/ theFile problemsNo. and concerns of unemployed individuals and make recommendations for resolving such problems and concerns;

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6344725 (4)others Assistregarding unemployedthe individualsproblems withand theconcerns filing of appealsunemployed inindividuals connectionand withmake therecommendations benefitsfor administeredresolving bysuch theproblems departmentand underconcerns; chapter 567 of the general statutes;

(4) Assist unemployed individuals with the filing of appeals in connection with the benefits administered by the department under chapter 567 of the general statutes;

(c) Not later than JulyOctober 1, 2021, the Labor Commissioner shall designate an Unemployed Workers' Advocate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner, to manage the daily activities and duties of the Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate.

Within available appropriations, the Unemployed Workers' Advocate shall appoint and employ such assistants, employees and personnel as deemedHB6344 necessary/ forFile theNo. efficient and effective administration of the activities of the office.

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Section 1 from passage New section HB6344 / File No.

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725 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $ Labor Dept.

GF - Potential Up to Up to Cost 430,981 579,705 State Comptroller - Fringe GF - Potential Up to Up to Benefits Cost 167,877 239,418 Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation Thebill,whichrequiresthelaborcommissionertoestablishtheOffice of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate, results in a potential cost of up to $598,858 in FY 22 and up to $819,123 in FY 23.

The bill requires the designation of an "unemployed workers' advocate" to manage the office's daily activities and duties, as well as appoint and employ the assistants, employees, and personnel needed to effectively and efficiently administer the office’s activities.

The cost of the office and personnel are dependent on the way the requirements of the bill are satisfied.

To the extent the agency hires all new, additional personnel to establish the office, there is a cost of up to $598,858 in FY 22 and up to $819,123 in FY 23 associated with salary and fringe benefit costs for up to seven positions (including the advocate The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts administered by the Comptroller.

The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost associated with most personnel changes is 41.3% of payroll in FY 22 and FY 23.

HB6344 / File No.

725 HB6344 File No.

725 position itself), as well as one-time information technology and office set-up costs estimated at up to $24,500 in FY 22 only.

However, to the extent that the agency is able to utilize existing personnel and equipment for some or all of the functions, the cost could be less.

House "A" pushes back the date by which the Labor Commissioner must designate an Unemployed Workers' Advocate, which reduces the potential cost by up to $191,453 in FY 22 only ($135,494 in the Labor Department and $55,959 in the State Comptroller- Fringe Benefits account).

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.

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725 OLR Bill Analysis HB 6344 (as amended by House "A")* AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE UNEMPLOYED WORKERS' ADVOCATE.

SUMMARY This bill requires the labor commissioner, within available appropriations, to establish the Office of the Unemployed Workers’ Advocate within the Department of Labor (DOL) to assist unemployed people.

The bill requires the commissioner, by October 1, 2021, to designate an “unemployed workers’ advocate,” who serves at the pleasure of the commissioner, to manage the office’s daily activities and duties.

The advocate must have the qualifications needed to perform the office’s duties, including expertise in unemployment benefits and advocacy for unemployed people’s rights.

The advocate must, within available appropriations, appoint and employ the assistants, employees, and personnel needed to effectively and efficiently administer the office’s activities.