JFC considering request to add 20 new positions to manage CCAP

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Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Finance is considering a request to add 20 new positions to manage the state’s CCAP services.

The Joint Committee on Finance received a recommendation from the Department of Administration on Monday concerning a request from Randy Koschnick, director of state courts. Koschnick had asked to add 14.5 full-time, permanent positions and reallocate 5.5 full-time, permanent positions to cover the increased digital workload the court is dealing with.

The 20 positions would support mandatory e-filing throughout the court system; the installation and support of courtroom Digital Audio Recording systems; maintenance of the court’s cybersecurity program; and technical support for court-operating systems and applications, including those necessary for remote and video access.

The reallocated positions would come from appropriations for gifts and grants, materials and services, library collections and services, and the Board of Bar Examiners. The Department of Administration’s analysis noted that the positions are either vacant or no longer needed, and their elimination wouldn’t affect operations.

The department estimated the savings with the new positions in place would come to $290,552 a year. Its analysis budgeted about $2.1 million in salary and benefits for the 20 new positions, but also about a $2.1 million decrease in costs associated with the courts’ current use of 17 contractors to supplement CCAP. The state would also save about $300,000 in salary and benefits by moving the 5.5 existing positions.

The 20 new positions would be budgeted under the state Supreme Court’s program-revenue appropriation for court-automation programs. CCAP receives $6 of the $21.5o justice-information-surcharge now collected with most court filings and forfeiture actions, according to the recommendation.

The Department of Administration is required to lapse $700,000 of the surcharge revenue in each fiscal year to the state’s general fund. It also noted that COVID-19 and the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s orders to suspend all in-person proceedings may be tamping down program revenue.

“According to PeopleSoft, revenue for April 2020 ($972,645) is approximately 18 percent less than March 2020 and 14 percent less than April 2019,” the recommendation said.

The Department of Administration recommended approving the request to eliminate the 5.5 positions and modifying the request for 20 new positions. Under the recommendation, the courts would receive 13 new full-time, permanent positions and seven full-time, two-year positions for CCAP .

“This would provide the opportunity for a holistic review of programs supported by the justice information surcharge and evaluate the ongoing need for the positions beyond the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the review said.

Members of the JFC have until May 29 to express concerns or ask for a formal meeting to consider the recommendation. It will be approved if no action is taken. Follow @WLJReporter