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Industrial Commission requests recurring IRIS support, flags rising peace-officer claims
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Summary
The Industrial Commission asked the joint budget committee for ongoing maintenance funding for its IRIS case-management system and an increase to a temporary disability reimbursement fund, and described steps to address an audit finding on its training revenue.
Noah Peterson, a budget policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the joint Senate Finance and House appropriations committee that the Industrial Commission is requesting ongoing funding for maintenance of its IRIS case-management system and several program adjustments as part of the fiscal 2027 budget review. The commission has about 130.25 full-time positions and operates three programs: workers' compensation, rehabilitation and the Crime Victims Compensation Program.
"They are requesting the IRIS maintenance contract, $288,000 once again," Peterson said, noting that the commission has received one-time appropriations for the system in prior years and has asked for ongoing support because the Office of Information Technology Services (OITS) is not yet able to assume maintenance.
Patty Vaughn, Benefits Administration Manager for the Industrial Commission, told the committee that IRIS "has been a huge success," improving timeliness, data management and records responses. She said development work continues and the commission relies on the original development vendor for support until OITS builds the required in-house expertise.
Vaughn described operational benefits from IRIS and warned that a failure of the system would cause a major stoppage across programs. The commission requested one-time and ongoing items tied to IRIS including continued vendor maintenance funding and $63,700 in one-time IT hardware for routers and laptops.
The commission also addressed a Legislative Services Office audit that found the miscellaneous revenue (training) fund had grown above reserves. The office plans to expand in-person offerings of the Certified Idaho Workers Compensation Specialist (CWICs) course and the annual seminar rather than reducing fees. Vaughn said early-bird seminar registration is typically about $120, regular registration about $142, and the seminar usually attracts more than 300 attendees.
Lawmakers pressed the commission on the Peace Officer and Detention Officer Temporary Disability Fund. Peterson and Vaughn said claims have risen with greater program awareness; at the end of FY25 a reimbursement claim was delayed into FY26 because of insufficient appropriation. The commission requested a $68,900 increase to trustee and benefit appropriations to ensure timely reimbursements and proposed raising the trustee and benefit appropriation to $225,000.
The committee heard that the Crime Victims Compensation Fund is funded by fees tied to different crimes and can reimburse victims up to $25,000 (excluding property damages). Peterson said the commission is required to use dedicated funds first and that the small general-fund supplement has decreased over time from around $300,000 to roughly $285,000; agency staff did not expect reductions in service but acknowledged the committee's concern about future demand for forensic exams and victim services.
The committee did not take formal action on the requests during the hearing; staff and commissioners said they would provide any additional follow-up information the committee requests.
