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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 53
BY SENATOR PETERSON
EMPLOYMENT. Directs the development of a plan to support state employees who are
terminated due to implementation of budget-reduction measures in preparation for reentry
to the private sector workforce.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To direct the division of administration, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the2
Department of Economic Development, the Department of State Civil Service, the3
office of group benefits, the Louisiana State University System, the Southern4
University System, the University of Louisiana System, the Louisiana Community5
and Technical College System, the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System,6
the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, and the State Police Pension and7
Retirement System to work together to develop a plan to support state employees8
who are terminated due to budget-reduction measures in their preparation to reenter9
the workforce in the private sector.10
WHEREAS, the people of the state of Louisiana have mandated that the state operate11
with a balanced budget, requiring that expenditures in a fiscal year shall not exceed the12
current official revenue forecast; and13
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana is facing unprecedented declines in state revenue14
necessitating deep cuts in the state budget for the current fiscal year and for the following15
two fiscal years; and16
WHEREAS, the Commission on Streamlining Government approved17
Recommendation No. 215 on December 1, 2009, which requires each state agency to make18 SCR NO. 53
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a five percent reduction in positions in each of the next three fiscal years; and1
WHEREAS, the fiscal note for Recommendation No. 215 shows a savings for each2
year's reduction to be in excess of one hundred million dollars; and3
WHEREAS, the commission further adopted Recommendation No. 222 on4
December 8, 2009, which advises state agencies that if a reduction in force becomes5
necessary, creation of any reduction-in-force plan should include discussions of a separation6
package, which may include provisions for lump sum payments, health insurance, and7
education or training; and8
WHEREAS, Recommendation No. 173 adopted by the commission on December 1,9
2009, advises that the expense of any separation package should not outweigh the savings10
to the state, and specifies that the recurring savings should fund the cost of the package11
within five years of implementation; and12
WHEREAS, Governor Bobby Jindal has issued executive orders BJ 2009-11, BJ13
2010-5, and BJ 2010-6 requiring a hiring freeze, a spending freeze, and the withholding of14
merit increases among all executive branch agencies; and15
WHEREAS, each state agency is charged with maximizing cost savings by16
outsourcing, implementation of technological innovations, consolidation of duplicative17
programs, elimination of nonessential services, enhancing efficiencies, privatization, and18
reduction of employees generally; and19
WHEREAS, in the interest of preserving the dignity of state employees who are20
terminated as a result of the implementation of cost-saving measures and encouraging those21
employees to remain contributing members of Louisiana's economy, a separation package22
available to all such employees who are not eligible for or who are not yet prepared to enter23
retirement should be developed; and24
WHEREAS, to assure that the separation package is designed to provide maximum25
value in meeting the needs of persons who become unemployed, the participation in26
development of the plan must be broad-based and include all state agencies with duties27
related to employment and compensation of state employees or with expertise in workforce28
development.29
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby30 SCR NO. 53
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direct the division of administration, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the Department1
of Economic Development, the Department of State Civil Service, the office of group2
benefits, the Louisiana State University System, the Southern University System, the3
University of Louisiana System, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System,4
the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System, the Teachers' Retirement System of5
Louisiana, and the State Police Pension and Retirement System to work together to develop6
a plan to support state employees who are terminated as a result of cost-saving actions in7
their preparation to reenter the workforce in the private sector and to report the plan design8
to the legislature on or before June 21, 2010.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to10
Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis, Louisiana Workforce Commission11
Executive Director Curt Eysink, Secretary of Economic Development Stephen Moret,12
Department of State Civil Service Executive Director Shannon Templet, the office of group13
benefits Executive Director Tommy Teague, Louisiana State University System President14
Dr. John V. Lombardi, Southern University System Interim President Dr. Kassie Freeman,15
University of Louisiana System President Dr. Randy Moffet, Louisiana Community and16
Technical College System Dr. Joe May, Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System17
Executive Director Cindy Rougeou, Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana Executive18
Director Maureen Westgard, and State Police Pension and Retirement System Executive19
Director Irwin Felps.20
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Laura Gail Sullivan.
DIGEST
Peterson SCR No.
Directs the division of administration, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the
Department of Economic Development, the Department of State Civil Service, the Office
of Group Benefits, the Louisiana State University System, the Southern University System,
the University of Louisiana System, the Louisiana Community and Technical College
System, the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System, the Teachers' Retirement
System of Louisiana, and the State Police Pension and Retirement System to work together
to develop a plan to support state employees who are terminated due to outsourcing in their
preparation to reenter the workforce in the private sector.
Requires a report to the legislature on or before June 21, 2010. SCR NO. 53
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the original
bill.
1. Changes the report due date from May 21, 2010 to June 21, 2010.