[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6111215,"mediaKeyId","2752858-e9e6f0415765cbfa29dc0bfc5a59b3d5","parentId",2752858,"title","Vocational Rehabilitation director warns of capped federal grant and rising caseloads; department explores $8 million IT upgrade","audioSeconds",845,"startMs",5224000,"endMs",6069000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2752858-e9e6f0415765cbfa29dc0bfc5a59b3d5&start=5224&end=6069","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2752858-e9e6f0415765cbfa29dc0bfc5a59b3d5/thumbnail_5224000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6111215/North-Dakota/Vocational-Rehabilitation-director-warns-of-capped-federal-grant-and-rising-caseloads-department-explores-8-million-IT-upgrade","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111215-9379521f9eeb3ec370bf5800606dfbbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936665&Signature=JjRg-~TNHDmlz~1Z6dvw3x~eDWQ3QJLnhPG8x5blcAbcOjItJHDOtrPGdwRPrDHjG-HSTUBCHJ6lL3qPAs-prVXOat9nAboxrCIs--w9VFirtCp3w4LhMFGD0Z9KTPWnmskWxbe~GhLI0tD9EBoEQcqmYRmi7wZZds-hy9nAiHDc3A4Y-xGiQUz88porjfwzkV~T0V10k0ruMHzMmq1NeUOUC73rLExOi~I-FnjwCjpJ~DrdouF-YN3ZcsocBplG5FCd34QYnj0tou6X-6V2dKaO8Jp2BeeXCXXPv9v5TQ1uwThaZ7SY4wtuKZEPrrFHS~2OpMs3weXlioOOC18gdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","At a Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division hearing, Jim Fleming, interim director of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, told lawmakers the program faces growing demand while operating under a federally capped grant that has seen no recent cost‑of‑living adjustment.

Fleming said VR’s federal award is roughly 78.7% federal and 21.3% state; unlike the child support program, VR’s grant is capped so the state cannot draw additional federal funds simply by increasing program spending. Fleming said flat federal funding, combined with rising provider and labor costs, presents a sustainability risk over coming biennia.

Caseload and services: Fleming told the committee that VR received about 2,400 new applications in the last year, completed roughly 1,760 employment plans and secured 249 supported or customized jobs. He said 30% of new applications come from teenagers and young adults, and that North Dakota has around 49,000 people of working age with a disability; about 23,000 of those are not currently working. Fleming said North Dakota ranks highly on performance metrics but noted the program’s caseload rose roughly 39% between 2021 and 2024, putting strain on staff.

Fleming outlined core services: pre‑employment transition services for students (ages 14–21) delivered in 71 participating schools, supported and customized employment, older‑individuals‑who‑are‑blind (OIB) services, and partnerships with job service, independent living centers and other local providers. He described the OIB grant as historically underfunded and said the department seeks to use Social Security reimbursement revenue and VR funds to sustain vision services.

IT and operations: Fleming said VR’s current case management software, AWARE (supplied by Alliance), is “clumsy” for workers and sometimes forces duplicate entries. The department is exploring whether to enhance AWARE or replace it with a new case system; Fleming said a Colorado cost estimate informed a proposed figure near $8,000,000 for a replacement and that the department has not yet issued an RFP. Fleming said a possible state share of about $1.7 million (Community Health Trust Fund) might be requested to leverage federal funds over the life of a phased project and that the department is exploring strategies to satisfy federal maintenance‑of‑effort rules while financing a multi‑year project.

Fleming detailed internal reforms to manage demand: centralizing and specializing staff roles, telework and “double‑bunking” office space to reduce lease costs, and a business‑outreach wing to expand employer hiring of people with disabilities. He said VR is searching for efficiencies and additional Social Security reimbursement revenue to offset costs.

Lawmakers pressed for data on caseload growth, demographic drivers and the mix of new applications; Fleming said the department will return with more breakdowns by age, region and source of referral. Committee members also asked whether a modernized IT system would reduce staffing needs; Fleming said improved technology could increase worker efficiency but that a final answer depends on the system chosen and whether caseload growth slows.

(Quotes in this article come directly from Jim Fleming’s and Sarah Stoltz’s testimony to the subcommittee.)","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Mar 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division hearing, Jim Fleming, interim director of the Vocational Rehabilitation program at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, told lawmakers the program faces rising demand while operating under a federally capped grant that has not kept pace with inflation.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Human Resources Division, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28901,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111220,"Child support director tells Senate subcommittee progress continues on $60 million IT replacement; collections at record high",0,5577000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2752858-e9e6f0415765cbfa29dc0bfc5a59b3d5&start=5577&end=5577","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2752858-e9e6f0415765cbfa29dc0bfc5a59b3d5/thumbnail_5577000.jpg","/articles/6111220/North-Dakota/Child-support-director-tells-Senate-subcommittee-progress-continues-on-60-million-IT-replacement-collections-at-record-high","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111220-d768d18f8c37e9eec5961c901e2cd5c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936665&Signature=OXxqY-uRQ--Zh6QaLDlMOFgve3hrjRKf6P8l~9dJjr4EWrYqdLPfuieHNZdh2qZHc2ydbxhn5bRcME~a4qKCLMJF~4V9UUQDDjG4XV4b8vFX-4mGKi2W0uVCwVvu7gMa2f4nCllJUoZp9dcKIuw6tF5rTguIystWuQtByiZjtbzh8tRQh3OLle23cMVW8-v1l9DzpkutdyUyVDzLhoBCqdHJ6YEn7zklFP-d-P18TLei2hZeqVByoq6dIn4ICBrmWL2xTUQLYYDiPmp2YoK6HloIKymkiSmcOthXErcpTRP9n4NDqPTz4uSH-t7FrJbXm6HbwfOb4rGtXcycPBE1iA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Human Resources Division, Jim Fleming, director of the child support section at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, updated lawmakers on program performance and on a long‑running computer system replacement that has an existing $60 million appropriation.

Fleming told the committee the child support program collected $192,200,000 last year, a record, and that the program’s current support collection rate — the share of monthly support actually collected — is 78.58%, the highest North Dakota has recorded. He said the program manages roughly $254,700,000 in unpaid arrears and serves 87,258 active employers statewide.

Why this matters: the department’s replacement of an aging mainframe system — funded last biennium with a $60 million appropriation (66% federal, 34% state, the state share drawn from the Community Health Trust Fund) — remains unfinished and requires continuity of funding and oversight. Fleming described the procurement steps completed so far and the next milestones.

Fleming said the department completed an RFP for a “modernization readiness” vendor and has that planning contractor under contract. He said the readiness vendor will help prepare a second RFP for the system itself; that RFP is expected “late this year, early next year,” and the expected implementation window is roughly 2½ to 3 years from award. Fleming told lawmakers the $60 million estimate reflects the department’s judgment that an off‑the‑shelf system adapted for North Dakota needs is the most cost‑effective route.

Fleming summarized how the program runs and how collections are achieved: casework to establish paternity and orders, automated tools and a staffed call center available 24/7, employer cooperation for income‑withholdings, and enforcement tools including tax offsets and, when used carefully, license suspensions. Fleming described license suspension as a case‑management tool that aims to bring nonpaying obligors to the negotiating table while allowing flexibility to avoid cutting off pathways to work. “We work really hard to avoid suspension and if we do suspend, we work really hard to make it easy to get back if they're willing to work with us,” he said.

Fleming also described non‑technical program initiatives: a partnership that connects obligors to employment services when job loss is the barrier to payment; selective non‑referral of foster‑care parents who are in active family‑reunification plans; and pilot arrangements with community partners to reach homeless veterans and other hard‑to‑contact groups.

Lawmakers pressed Fleming about the pace and cost of the IT project and whether $60 million will be sufficient. Fleming said the department is not seeking additional funds beyond the existing appropriation; rather, he said, the current hearing concerns extending or continuing the appropriation. He argued the $60 million estimate is modest relative to comparable statewide child‑support system replacements and noted that Texas and other large states have invested far more. Fleming also said the department and NDIT (the state IT agency) will include procurement language to protect sustainability and vendor support over time.

Committee members also asked about performance and taxpayer value. Fleming emphasized that the program distributes the lion’s share of collections to families (he said about 91% of distributed funds go to families) and presented national ranking metrics — noting North Dakota’s program ranks near the top nationally on several measures.

The discussion mixed operational details — caseload, staffing (Fleming said the program has 164 staff, some part‑time), and collection metrics — with procurement and oversight questions about the multi‑year technology replacement. Fleming repeatedly said the project now has momentum after a planning vendor was contracted and the program charter completed.

The subcommittee did not take a formal vote during Fleming’s presentation. Lawmakers indicated they will continue oversight of the IT appropriation and budget items as part of the division’s review process.

(Quotes in this article come directly from Jim Fleming’s testimony to the subcommittee.)","Jim Fleming, director of the child support section at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told the Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division that collections hit a record $192.2 million and outlined progress on a $60 million case‑management replacement project funded by a 66/34 federal‑state match.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111211,"HHS business operations briefing: lawmakers press for clarity on IT costs, FTE block grant and underfunding choices",2777,8164000,10941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2752858-e9e6f0415765cbfa29dc0bfc5a59b3d5&start=8164&end=10941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2752858-e9e6f0415765cbfa29dc0bfc5a59b3d5/thumbnail_8164000.jpg","/articles/6111211/North-Dakota/HHS-business-operations-briefing-lawmakers-press-for-clarity-on-IT-costs-FTE-block-grant-and-underfunding-choices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111211-de16f85d51d0e0399e718c9d95f17c99/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936665&Signature=PBzULzP3tJxv2WZLgOrCTRkG6Cv4qqTC35N9cxPlzgqyoZrSmuE-en4YM11uoRxFElR8bP8JjGl2~SxdY3WffFT6mkI7ChZtYEehx5flhOwlVHJz0~OUrBYgkDL-MVMeBtRQek-dxr0BDvt6LEWLy99sv-hQOFyEyVXHx1C2nvp0FveBu6SnrKFp35fVG94j6Cr4tah8d1xLMu11s7-ZC7rdpnz~U65DU074XfVxNBcL7yc2CMgRM~cvdiyusQk0N4~SZeJVgQT~cNPv~M7Usz8YhT5obgEAwE2XRjYrOIMciVfOm8B--Sx~xyC~g4tJ8VZUtl0Lpqa5qRczlepL-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department officials briefed the Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division on business‑operations changes following unification of health and human services functions, with a focus on IT cost allocation, a new FTE salary block‑grant approach and a set of one‑time carryovers from the prior biennium.

Deputy Commissioner Sarah Stoltz and Donna Auckland, who presented business operations slides, told the committee that the department consolidated many IT contracts and moved IT expenses into individual program budgets so program managers would have direct responsibility and line‑of‑sight over those contracts and expenditures. They said certain one‑time carryover items remain in a centralized section 25 request — including a $60 million child‑support IT appropriation and other multi‑year IT or systems projects — but many recurring IT costs are now budgeted inside the operating divisions.

Stoltz and Auckland described a staffing and salary accounting issue tied to the governor’s executive compensation package. The administration added a roughly $9.8 million FTE block grant in the executive budget to fund compensation adjustments; the House then adjusted (underfunded) that package in committee action. Department staff explained the arithmetic used to calculate a baseline payroll need — monthly payroll extrapolated to a 24‑month biennium plus the salary package — and said the department would prefer flexibility in the salary line to respond to program needs rather than deeper underfunding of personnel.

Auckland said some differences between the department’s projected expenditures and the executive recommendation reflect internal position moves and integration costs (finance and HR integration, contract work with Deloitte on cost‑allocation issues), plus one‑time project carryovers. She told senators the department moved several communications, finance and IT positions into a central business‑operations area to better coordinate functions but acknowledged that the reorganization makes year‑to‑year budget comparisons harder to read on a single slide.

Senators pressed for simpler, position‑level documentation: where personnel moved, which positions are new, and what a reduction in the department’s “operational underfund” would mean in personnel terms. Lawmakers said they want to see where the department could identify savings from reduced leased space, duplicative subscriptions and other back‑office costs — and staff told the committee they are running a ‘‘logistics’’ review of phone, printing, card‑access and office‑space costs to find savings.

Department officials emphasized the tradeoffs involved in the committee’s choices: underfund the salary package and the department will have fewer dollars to hire or retain critical positions; underfund operating and IT contracts and the department may need to reduce services, delay projects or cut back on contractor support. No formal budget decisions were taken at the hearing.

(Quotes in this article come directly from Sarah Stoltz’s and Donna Auckland’s testimony to the subcommittee.)","Department officials described recent unification work, reallocation of IT costs into program budgets, a parked $13.9 million operational underfunding and the governor’s proposed FTE block grant. Senators asked for clearer, position‑level detail before making underfunding decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vocational Rehabilitation director warns of capped federal grant and rising caseloads; department explores $8 million IT upgrade

Child support director tells Senate subcommittee progress continues on $60 million IT replacement; collections at record high

HHS business operations briefing: lawmakers press for clarity on IT costs, FTE block grant and underfunding choices