Return to Agency List

Agency 235
Department of Labor and Industries
RCW 43.22

Request

$388,107,274

Net change from current biennium

$17,274,190

Increase

Percent change from current biennium

4.7%

Increase

The Department of Labor and Industries administers laws pertaining to employers, employees, and places and conditions of work and residence. The Department is responsible for managing no-fault workers' compensation insurance for employers and employees. It ensures that employers provide safe, healthy, and legally acceptable working conditions for the state's workers, as well as protecting citizens from potential hazards caused by unsafe conditions in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings. The Department also maximizes apprenticeship opportunities and provides financial assistance to innocent victims of violent crimes.

The goal of the Department is to assure that workers, employers, and other citizens affected by the agency's diverse programs receive prompt and equitable services consistent with state law. Within this general goal, there are several operational goals: to ensure that injured workers receive economic assistance during recovery and help in returning to work; to ensure that the basic industrial insurance rates are equitable and the lowest necessary to maintain actuarial solvency of the accident and medical aid funds while working toward prudent and predictable rate charges; to reduce unsafe conditions in the workplace, factory-assembled structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and newly constructed or remodeled homes; to protect workers against unfair working conditions or labor practices; to provide a continuous flow of skilled workers to meet the industrial needs of the state through certification of apprenticeship programs; and to ensure that eligible innocent victims of violent crimes receive assistance.

Agency Level Summary

Return to Top

Operating Budget: Summary
1995-97 Appropriations								Appropriated Funds							Expenditures
	Amount		Estimated Balance											1993-95 Actual			1995-97 Estimated		1997-99 Proposed
11,329,297				11,985				General Fund - Basic Account - State							9,401,499			11,317,312		13,923,000
20,165,610								Public Safety & Education Account - State							20,775,594			20,165,610		16,247,610
6,002,000								Public Safety & Education Account - Federal							6,353,998			6,002,000		6,002,000
972,000				1,000				Public Safety & Education Account - Private/Local							290,316			971,000		2,014,000
20,699,984								Electrical License Account - State							17,065,545			20,699,984		22,540,984
				(28,000)				Farm Labor Revolving Account - State										28,000		28,000
28,000				28,000				Farm Labor Revolving Account - Private/Local							28,000
2,187,577								Worker/Community Right to Know Acct - State							1,691,145			2,187,577		2,187,577
1,975,006								Public Works Administration Acct - State							1,042,352			1,975,006		2,375,006
143,882,912				1,428,003				Accident Account - State							140,626,124			142,454,909		150,041,331
9,131,447								Accident Account - Federal							9,095,710			9,131,447		9,112,000
								Accident Account - Federal Unanticipated							1,254,059
								Accident Account - Private/Local Unanticipated							18,125
153,904,822				2,431,464				Medical Aid Account - State							159,141,887			151,473,358		159,091,332
1,611,447								Medical Aid Account - Federal							1,583,761			1,611,447		1,592,000
								Medical Aid Account - Federal Unanticipated							309,129
								Medical Aid Account - Private/Local Unanticipated							17,165
701,728								Plumbing Certificate Account - State							581,341			701,728		845,728
2,113,706								Pressure Systems Safety Account - State							1,794,906			2,113,706		2,106,706
374,705,536				3,872,452				Total Appropriated Funds							371,070,656			370,833,084		388,107,274

Capital Budget: Summary*

1995-97 Appropriations

Appropriated Funds

Expenditures

Amount

Estimated Balance

1993-95 Actual

1995-97 Estimated

1997-99 Proposed

Labor & Industries Construction - State

815,500

*For detail projects, see 1997-99 Capital Plan.

Operating Budget: Summary by Object

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries And Wages				84,833,098			90,199,881			92,045,465			95,431,474			95,643,102
Employee Benefits				23,241,481			24,565,153			24,982,187			25,610,112			25,659,965
Personal Service Contracts				5,353,603			3,308,334			5,233,840			5,885,984			5,730,837
Goods And Services				47,489,111			44,743,552			46,093,790			46,438,980			46,529,618
Travel				3,637,788			3,528,321			4,025,409			3,954,872			3,999,041
Capital Outlays				16,037,986			2,556,248			4,859,520			9,372,779			3,916,098
Grants, Benefits & Client Services				12,969,156			10,629,707			11,470,779			9,022,014			9,766,432
Debt Service				3,164,154			1,358,418			1,358,418			645,009			645,009
Interagency Reimbursements				(199,727)			(63,452)			(62,486)			(72,026)			(72,026)
Intra-Agency Reimbursements				(1)

Annual Total				196,526,649			180,826,162			190,006,922			196,289,198			191,818,076

Operating Budget: Program Summary

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Management Services				25,382,785			14,558,815			13,758,086			14,083,306			14,409,316
Insurance Services				63,301,077			52,191,605			54,606,897			59,421,432			56,996,408
Research and Information Services				46,748,920			39,223,206			43,970,536			44,415,766			41,160,639
Consultation and Compliance Svcs				35,976,146			51,198,555			53,316,205			54,852,365			54,999,335
Crime Victims Compensation				15,026,940			12,922,237			13,956,834			11,775,698			12,519,748
Legal Services				10,090,781			10,731,744			10,398,364			11,740,631			11,732,630
Annual Total				196,526,649			180,826,162			190,006,922			196,289,198			191,818,076
Fiscal Year 1993-94				174,544,007
Biennium Total				371,070,656			370,833,084						388,107,274

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

				1993-95 Actual								1995-97 Estimated								1997-99 Proposed
				Amount			Percent				Amount					Percent			Amount					Percent
Management Services			8,138,157			20.4%				(19,688,323)					(41.0)%			175,721					0.6%
Insurance Services			5,732,277			5.0%				(14,373,246)					(11.9)%			9,619,338					9.0%
Research and Information Services			11,788,308			15.8%				(3,107,307)					(3.6)%			2,382,663					2.9%
Consultation and Compliance Svcs			5,039,879			8.0%				36,632,520					54.0%			5,336,940					5.1%
Crime Victims Compensation			2,362,620			9.4%				(530,403)					(1.9)%			(2,583,625)					(9.6)%
Legal Services			2,004,647			11.0%				829,187					4.1%			2,343,153					11.1%
College Work Study			6			(100.0)%

Total			35,065,894			10.4%				(237,572)					(0.1)%			17,274,190					4.7%

Employment Summary

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			2,537.5		2,560.7			2,661.5				2,688.9				2,693.9
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			33,432			35,225		34,584				35,491				35,504

Program Level Detail

Management Services

Return to Top

The Management Services program supports the agency with public information, legal, management, and legislative services.

Objectives are to: implement management-level monthly reviews of fiscal status and personnel patterns; improve public awareness and understanding of agency programs and responsibilities; and support the remainder of the agency in fiscal monitoring and reporting.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			382.3		236.2			232.8				234.0				234.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			29,525			35,684		31,802				35,687				35,687

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			14,434,425			10,733,269			9,323,856			10,549,394			10,548,844
Grants and Subsidies			100			200
Other Operating Costs			10,948,260			3,825,346			4,434,230			3,533,912			3,860,472

Annual Total			25,382,785			14,558,815			13,758,086			14,083,306			14,409,316
Fiscal Year 1993-94			22,622,439
Biennium Total			48,005,224			28,316,901						28,492,622

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				18,881
Public Safety & Education Account - State											2,610						2,610
Electrical License Account - State				79,949
Worker/Community Right to Know Acct - State							34,923				53,535			37,644			50,814
Accident Account - State				10,374,556			6,695,082				7,447,751			7,023,880			7,206,814
Accident Account - Federal				486,940			516,507				9,205			262,856			262,856
Accident Account - Federal Unanticipated				11,877
Medical Aid Account - State				14,208,445			7,221,155				6,244,865			6,713,292			6,840,588
Medical Aid Account - Federal				188,759			91,148				120			45,634			45,634
Medical Aid Account - Federal Unanticipated				11,872
Plumbing Certificate Account - State				1,208
Pressure Systems Safety Account - State				298

Annual Total				25,382,785			14,558,815				13,758,086			14,083,306			14,409,316

Insurance Services

Return to Top

The purpose of the Insurance Services program is to administer the Washington State workers' compensation laws, which provide no-fault protection against economic loss incurred due to accidents and illnesses in the course of employment, and to provide quality rehabilitation assistance in a timely fashion, enabling injured workers to return to work following the acute stage of their medical treatment. Under this program, employers are granted immunity from negligence suits, and employees are guaranteed sure and certain relief in the form of economic assistance during recovery. The program offers industrial insurance coverage to employers who are mandated to provide such protection. Insurance Services also regulates the self-insurance and vocational rehabilitation programs.

Program objectives are to: establish and receive adequate premiums; promptly and efficiently adjudicate claims; pay benefits and service billings in a timely manner; assure that injured workers employed by self-insured employers are afforded the same benefits under the law as those employees covered through the state fund and that the self-insured employer is financially capable of making benefit payments; provide quality vocational rehabilitation to injured workers; and inform workers who have experienced time-loss injuries about their rights and responsibilities.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			1,222.9		1,068.1			1,112.4				1,124.6				1,124.6
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			31,172			32,607		32,607				32,967				32,978

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			48,834,609			44,607,005			46,457,300			47,335,555			47,346,262
Other Operating Costs			14,466,468			7,584,600			8,149,597			12,085,877			9,650,146

Annual Total			63,301,077			52,191,605			54,606,897			59,421,432			56,996,408
Fiscal Year 1993-94			57,870,671
Biennium Total			121,171,748			106,798,502						116,417,840

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Accident Account - State				27,379,464			25,061,400				28,337,854			29,710,708			28,498,215
Accident Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				7,374
Medical Aid Account - State				35,906,865			27,130,205				26,269,043			29,710,724			28,498,193
Medical Aid Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				7,374

Annual Total				63,301,077			52,191,605				54,606,897			59,421,432			56,996,408

Research and Information Services

Return to Top

The purpose of the Research and Information Services program is to conduct policy development, research, data analysis, and health care program management and to provide information technology services.

Objectives are to: ensure that the medical care received by occupational injured and ill workers is of the highest quality so that such care meets national and community standards for safety and efficiency and is optimal in reducing the potential for long-term disability; conduct medical and epidemiological research that addresses major medical and safety issues crucial to the prevention of injury, disease, and long-term disability; develop, implement, and manage strategies that assure access to cost effective, quality health care for workers covered by the state fund; reduce the burden of work-related illness and injury by performing research and developing policy on a wide range of work place health problems; collect and analyze data and information necessary for both research and operational assessment; and provide information technology services and capabilities which are cost effective and responsive to Department goals.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			268.1		321.4			299.5				316.3				316.3
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			42,973			40,429		42,432				42,446				42,446

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			14,409,867			16,289,768			15,929,959			16,630,881			16,627,737
Grants and Subsidies			395,020			267,688			268,000
Other Operating Costs			31,944,033			22,665,750			27,772,577			27,784,885			24,532,902

Annual Total			46,748,920			39,223,206			43,970,536			44,415,766			41,160,639
Fiscal Year 1993-94			39,552,129
Biennium Total			86,301,049			83,193,742						85,576,405

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State							126,056				127,934			126,995			126,995
Public Safety & Education Account - State				3,000			190,190				94,754			2,777			2,777
Electrical License Account - State				214,398			336,180				166,356			251,260			251,260
Worker/Community Right to Know Acct - State				111,116			89,820				89,820			89,609			89,608
Accident Account - State				17,836,014			14,894,264				16,776,032			17,149,133			15,522,830
Accident Account - Federal				23,460			239,325				249,857			244,591			244,591
Accident Account - Federal Unanticipated				33,230
Medical Aid Account - State				28,446,784			23,257,928				26,364,550			26,456,846			24,828,023
Medical Aid Account - Federal				23,381			42,453				43,873			43,163			43,163
Medical Aid Account - Federal Unanticipated				33,232
Plumbing Certificate Account - State				620			574				574			438			438
Pressure Systems Safety Account - State				23,685			46,416				56,786			50,954			50,954

Annual Total				46,748,920			39,223,206				43,970,536			44,415,766			41,160,639

Consultation and Compliance Services

Return to Top

The Consultation section includes labor/management cooperation, the apprenticeship program, and workplace consultation services. Specialists in safety and health are available to assist employers and employees in understanding and complying with the laws. Six apprenticeship offices around the state help citizens participate in job training programs operated in conjunction with representatives from the state's employee and employer community. The Labor/Management Cooperation Program is an outreach effort aimed at returning injured workers to their jobs and reducing workers' compensation expenses.

Objectives are to increase voluntary safety and health consultations to employers and to increase the participation of women and minorities in apprenticeship programs.

The Compliance program enforces state laws that ensure safe and healthful working conditions for employees in Washington State, minimum wages, prevailing wages on public works projects, child labor, family leave, and other labor laws. It also conducts elevator and boiler inspections, registers contractors, licenses electrical contractors, and certifies electrical administrators, journeymen and trainees.

Objectives of this program are to: increase the number of occupational health inspections; continue to conduct safety inspections of more than 10 percent of the state's employers annually; continue to survey employers to provide information to evaluate employer incidence of accidents; meet the workload associated with the certification and licensing of workers in the construction industry; continue safety inspection of electrical installations, factory-built housing, boilers, pressure vessels, and elevators; collect overtime payments on behalf of workers; protect working young people; and enforce laws to ensure the payment of wages.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			563.8		832.3			913.5				910.0				915.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			37,028			36,840		35,140				36,403				36,422