06 LC 34
0638
House
Resolution 1399
By:
Representatives Porter of the
143rd,
Hugley of the
133rd,
Smyre of the
132nd,
Orrock of the
58th,
Randall of the
138th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint State Employee Turnover and Staffing Ratios Study Committee; and for
other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Budget Policy Institute has published a study detailing the increase
in state employee turnover in recent years; and
WHEREAS,
continuity within the state work force is of vital importance to maintain
effective business operations; and
WHEREAS,
experienced personnel lead and train new workers and often form the pool for
future leadership of the organization; and
WHEREAS,
leading industry sources consider a turnover rate of 10 percent or more to have
a negative effect on the productivity and effectiveness of state business, and
the State of Georgia has been facing turnover rates of between 15 percent and
18.5 percent over the previous ten years; and
WHEREAS,
the turnover rate has been increasing steadily over the previous four years with
a FY 2005 state employee turnover rate equal to 16.6 percent; and
WHEREAS,
as of July 1, 2004, over 43 percent of all employees had less than five years'
tenure, over 62 percent of all employees had less than ten years' tenure, and 47
percent of all employees were over 45 years of age; and
WHEREAS,
there are several reasons for the high state employee turnover rate including:
state employees are taking on an increased work load, as over the past ten years
the number of state employees as compared to the state population has decreased;
state employee take home pay is not keeping up with inflation, since over the
past five years, salary increases have totaled 11.4 percent while inflation has
totaled 12.8 percent; the State of Georgia Employees Retirement System has a
ten-year vesting requirement, where, of the 100 largest state retirement
systems, only 22 have a vesting requirement of ten years or more while 74 have a
vesting requirement of five years or less; and
WHEREAS,
turnover is a critical cost driver to state government because the costs of
recruiting and filling vacancies, lost productivity from vacant jobs, and the
costs of training new employees increase operating costs and reduce output;
and
WHEREAS,
the cost of turnover has been estimated to range from 25 percent to 300 percent
of the annual compensation amount of each employee being replaced;
and
WHEREAS,
the turnover rate needs to be studied thoroughly and a comprehensive solution to
this problem needs to be presented.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Joint State Employee Turnover and Staffing Ratios Study Committee to
be composed of seven members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
appoint three members of the House of Representatives as members of the
committee and shall designate one of such members as cochairperson. The Senate
Committee on Assignments shall appoint three members of the Senate as members of
the committee and shall designate one of such members as cochairperson. The
Governor shall appoint one member of the committee. The cochairpersons shall
call all meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Georgia General Assembly shall provide staff
resources and assistance to the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall
receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated. Members who are citizens shall receive a daily expense
allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of
the Official Code of Georgia Annotated as well as the mileage or transportation
allowance authorized for state employees. All other funds necessary to carry
out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the
House of Representatives and the Senate. The expenses and allowances authorized
by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more
than three days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the
committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions
for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before
December 31, 2006. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2006.