SLS 15RS-1469 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 101
BY SENATOR NEVERS
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Al J. Ransome for his service to the state of Louisiana.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend Al J. Ransome for his service to the state of Louisiana and as a pioneer in the
3 field of unemployment compensation cost control management.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the citizens of Louisiana
5 learned of the death of Al J. Ransome on Friday, March 7, 2014; and
6 WHEREAS, he was a native of Morganza and a resident of Baton Rouge for much
7 of his life; and
8 WHEREAS, he attended Louisiana State University and was honorably discharged
9 from the United States Army; and
10 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome's knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit led
11 to the creation of a competitive nationwide industry in cost control management of
12 unemployment compensation for employers; and
13 WHEREAS, in 1974, Mr. Ransome founded Unemployment Compensation Control
14 Systems, Inc. and served as its chief executive officer until early 2003; and
15 WHEREAS, in 2003, Mr. Ransome founded Unemployment Cost Solutions, LLC
16 and served as its chief executive officer until his death; and
17 WHEREAS, he was responsible for the design, development, and implementation
18 of an ongoing computerized management control and reporting system in the area of
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SLS 15RS-1469 ORIGINAL
1 unemployment compensation; and
2 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome was extremely knowledgeable in unemployment law,
3 having worked in the unemployment compensation industry for more than forty years, and
4 in 1986 and 1987 was asked to serve on a task force established by the governor and a task
5 force established by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry to address
6 Louisiana's bankrupt unemployment trust fund; and
7 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome developed the concept of bonding the 1 billion dollar
8 unemployment compensation trust fund debt, which resulted in retiring the debt seven years
9 early and further allowed the unemployment compensation trust fund to grow to 1.5 billion
10 dollars; and
11 WHEREAS, enacting that concept into law in a 1987 Special Session of the
12 Legislature of Louisiana became the most significant economic development legislation of
13 the decade, according to leading Louisiana economist Dr. Timothy Ryan; and
14 WHEREAS, when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Louisiana, Mr. Ransome
15 anticipated the effect those storms were going to have on the field of unemployment cost
16 control for private sector and governmental employers; and
17 WHEREAS, he was able to bring together the Louisiana Workforce Commission,
18 the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and the AFL-CIO to enact legislation
19 over a period of years which allowed the unemployment compensation trust fund to absorb
20 the unemployment compensation paid to displaced workers without Louisiana employers
21 having to absorb any of the cost; and
22 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome worked together with labor and industry to pass
23 legislation, including Acts 116 and 633 of the 2006 Regular Session of the Legislature, Act
24 288 of the 2007 Regular Session of the Legislature, and Act 512 of the 2008 Regular Session
25 of the Legislature, that was equally beneficial to labor, industry, and the state of Louisiana;
26 and
27 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome is survived by his loving wife, Darlene Sansone Ransome,
28 a daughter, Stephanie "Taffy" Matheny, and three sons, Justin Paul Ransome, Dustin Mark
29 Ransome, and Al Jerome Ransome II; seven grandchildren, John W. St. Amant II,
30 Christopher Matheny, Breeanna Ransome, Brooke Ransome, Blair Ransome,
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1 Christin Ransome, and Cullen Ransome; and two great-grandchildren, J.W. St. Amant III
2 and Jackson Matheny; and
3 WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of its communities,
4 and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon people like
5 Al J. Ransome; and
6 WHEREAS, Al J. Ransome deserves recognition and commendation for the
7 tremendous honor and integrity with which he served his clients, the state of Louisiana, and
8 all who knew and loved him.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby
10 commends Al J. Ransome, who exemplified all that is good about Louisiana, and recognizes
11 and records for posterity his long and productive career as a distinguished entrepreneur and
12 pioneer in the field of unemployment compensation cost control management.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
14 family of Al J. Ransome.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Julie J. Baxter.
DIGEST
SCR 101 Original 2015 Regular Session Nevers
Commends Al J. Ransome for his service to the state of Louisiana and as a pioneer in the
field of unemployment compensation cost control management.
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