OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
HB-6344
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE UNEMPLOYED
WORKERS' ADVOCATE.
As Amended by House "A" (LCO 9145)
House Calendar No.: 320
Primary Analyst: CW 5/25/21
Contributing Analyst(s):
Reviewer: MM
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $
Labor Dept. GF - Potential
Cost
Up to
430,981
Up to
579,705
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits
1
GF - Potential
Cost
Up to
167,877
Up to
239,418
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill, which requires the labor commissioner to establish the
Office 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
1
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. 2021HB-06344-R01-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
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 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.