Increase in HHSA, Other Health-Related Jobs Possible Under Schwarzenegger State Budget Proposal
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) administration has proposed creating 6,288 jobs in the fiscal year that begins Friday, including a 4% staff increase at the Health and Human Services Agency, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
In the current fiscal year, the state added 4,983 full-time positions. The budget proposal for FY 2005-2006 calls for 329,045 jobs -- a 3.5% increase from two years ago, according to records from the Department of Finance.
HHSA will add 1,086 new full-time positions to comply with voter initiatives, such as Proposition 63 to fund mental health services. The Department of Mental Health also plans to open a new 1,500-bed hospital this fall.
The Division of Workers' Compensation will add 1,616 employees, an 18% increase from FY 2003-2004.
In addition, Schwarzenegger has allowed many state licensing boards and bureaus to begin adding new jobs after a hiring freeze. According to finance department spokesperson H.D. Palmer, state licensing agencies are funded primarily through licensing fees, which cannot be allocated to other government programs (Wallack, San Francisco Chronicle, 6/30).