Karen E. Timberlake
Secretary
Referred to committee on Health and Healthcare Reform.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
April 17, 2009
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
The attached report updates the analysis of overtime in state agencies that we first provided in a letter report issued in June 2008. Both documents focus on premium overtime, which is paid at 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate, typically for work in excess of 40 hours per week.
From 2005 through 2008, state agencies paid a total of $253.8 million in overtime, of which $209.8 million was premium overtime. Premium overtime payments increased 15.8 percent over that four-year period, and 0.9 percent from 2007 to 2008. Payments at regular hourly rates to employees who worked more than 40 hours per week increased $0.8 million, or 11.6 percent, from 2007 to 2008.
Our previous analysis found that 90.0 percent of premium overtime payments were made by four state agencies that either have 24-hour operations or respond to emergencies: the Department of Corrections (DOC), the Department of Health Services (DHS, formerly the Department of Health and Family Services), the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Natural Resources. DOC's premium overtime payments declined $1.3 million, or 3.7 percent, from 2007 to 2008, but the other three agencies' premium overtime payments increased. Our June 2008 report recommended that DOC and DHS analyze overtime use at their facilities and submit options for reducing overtime costs to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee by January 5, 2009. Both agencies recently requested additional time to submit their reports.
We also reviewed 2008 overtime payments to the ten employees with the highest premium overtime earnings from 2005 through 2007. Although payments to six of these individuals declined, their 2008 premium overtime earnings ranged from $25,666 to $85,818. We identified 25 DOC and DHS employees who each earned more than $50,000 in premium overtime in addition to regular wages for 2008.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of the Office of State Employment Relations, DOC, and DHS.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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Assembly Joint Resolution 38
Relating to: the life and military service of Sergeant Daniel James Thompson.
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Representative Clark introduced Bob and Lisa Thompson and Maria Steinke, parents and fiancee of Sergeant Daniel James Thompson, who joined him at the rostrum.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
38 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Nelson asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 38 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Joint Resolution 45
Relating to: the life and military service of Sergeant Clint A. Sikorski.
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Representative Seidel introduced Walline and Maureen Sikorski, mother and sister of Sergeant Clint A. Sikorski, who joined her at the rostrum.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
45 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Nelson asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 45 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Resolution 5
Relating to: the life and public service of Debbie Loiselle and Stuart Seffern.
The question was: Shall Assembly Resolution 5 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Black asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative Zepnick asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
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Representative Barca asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
10:48 A.M.
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2:50 P.M.
The Assembly reconvened.
Speaker Pro Tempore Staskunas in the chair.
Representative Gunderson asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative Molepske, Jr. asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative Pridemore asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative Shilling asked unanimous consent that her leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative A. Williams asked unanimous consent that her leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
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Assembly Bill 100
Relating to: preexisting condition exclusions, modifications at renewal, and establishing a standard application for individual health benefit plans and granting rule-making authority.
The question was: Assembly Bill 100 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Barca, Benedict, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Bies, Black, Clark, Colon, Cullen, Danou, Davis, Dexter, Fields, Garthwaite, Grigsby, Hebl, Hilgenberg, Hintz, Hixson, Hraychuck, Hubler, Jorgensen, Kaufert, Kessler, Krusick, Mason, Milroy, Molepske Jr., Mursau, Murtha, Nass, Nelson, Parisi, Pasch, Petrowski, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Richards, Ripp, Roys, Schneider, Seidel, Sherman, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Soletski, Spanbauer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Toles, Turner, Van Akkeren, Vruwink, A. Williams, M. Williams, Wood, Young, Zepnick, Zigmunt and Speaker Sheridan - 61.
Noes - Representatives Ballweg, Brooks, J. Fitzgerald, Friske, Gottlieb, Gunderson, Gundrum, Honadel, Huebsch, Kerkman, Kestell, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kramer, LeMahieu, Lothian, Meyer, Montgomery, Nerison, Newcomer, Nygren, A. Ott, J. Ott, Petersen, Pridemore, Radcliffe, Rhoades, Roth, Stone, Strachota, Suder, Tauchen, Townsend, Van Roy, Vos, Vukmir, Ziegelbauer and Zipperer - 38.
Absent or not voting - None.
Motion carried.
Representative Nelson asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
100 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
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From: Robert J. Marchant, Senate Chief Clerk.
Mr. Speaker:
I am directed to inform you that the Senate has
Adopted and asks concurrence in:
Senate Joint Resolution
33
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Representative Nelson asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Senate Joint Resolution 33 be withdrawn from the Senate message and taken up at this time. Granted.
Senate Joint Resolution
33
Relating to: the life and military service of United States Army Sergeant Steven J. Christofferson.
A151
By
Senator
Plale
; cosponsored by Representative Sinicki
.
The question was: Shall Senate Joint Resolution 33 be concurred in?
Motion carried.
Representative Nelson asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Senate Joint Resolution 33 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Joint Resolution 49
Relating to: the life and military service of United States Army Sergeant Steven J. Christofferson.
Representative Nelson asked unanimous consent that Assembly Joint Resolution 49 be laid on the table. Granted.
Representative Nelson asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Senate Joint Resolution 25 be withdrawn from the committee on Rules and taken up at this time. Granted.
Senate Joint Resolution 25
Relating to: the commemoration of The Progressive magazine's 100th anniversary.
The question was: Shall Senate Joint Resolution 25 be concurred in?
