Goals and Objectives

  • Goal #1: Conduct timely impartial investigations of charges of illegal discrimination under state and federal law.
    • Complete case investigations within 120 days for housing charges and 180 days for all other charges in accordance with state statutory timelines.
    Goal #2: Ensure appropriate filing within statutory time lines and jurisdiction of applicable state and federal discrimination statutes.
    • Trained staff will screen complaint inquiries and, when appropriate, prepare written complaints within two weeks of all intake interviews.
    Goal # 3: Foster early resolution of charges.
    • Provide mediation during the 180 day investigation period, when requested by parties to a case.
    • Successfully conciliate 55% of cases certified for hearing.
    Goal # 4: Provide technical assistance and educational outreach to businesses, advocacy groups and interested citizens.
    • Participate in 15 Assistance to Business Clinics annually.
    • Participate in a minimum of 10 other workshops and conferences on disability issues, race relations, discrimination issues in the workplace, education and public accommodations.
    • Respond to business rights inquiries from the public within two business days.
  • Goal #1: Issue initial determinations on Wage and Hour complaints in a timely and efficient manner.
    • Maintain at least a 75% completion and strive for a 76% completion within 55 days of receipt.
    Goal #2: Conduct timely dispute resolution and settlement of Wage and Hour complaints.
    • Maintain the 4% of cases forwarded to formal hearings processes.
    • Resolve at least 70% of the contested cases through mediation prior to hearing.
    Goal #3: Foster alternative dispute resolution methodologies.
    • Actively participate in Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) contract mediation and grievance mediation as requested.
    Goal #4: Conduct on-site visits on public construction and non-construction projects subject to the Montana Public Works Contract Law.
    • Perform on-site visits of at least 40 different public works projects.
    • Review payroll records of at least 85 contractors.
  • Goal #1: Assist employers in complying with workplace safety and health standards.
    • Assist 200 public sector employers with safety and health.
    • Conduct inspections on Montana's six coal mines.
    • Conduct annual sand and gravel inspection.
    • Utilize the OSHA Consultation Program to reach out and provide safety and health services to 200 private sector employers around the state.
    Goal #2: Provide educational outreach and technical assistance to Montana employers, workers, students, and interested organizations.
    • Provide Business Outreach presentations throughout the State
    • Participate as an exhibitor promoting Safety & Health Bureau and SafetyFestMT 4x per year.
    • Provide OSHA 10 Hour Courses targeted to young workers 40x per year.
    • Provide SafetyFestMTs, in partnership with WorkSafeMT, 4 x per year to 1400 workers.
    • Develop needed safety educational materials
    Goal #3: Provide mine training courses for Montana employers.
    • Train 1,000 – 1,500 miners and mining contractors in new miner training/refresher training through the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Small Miners training grant.
  • Goal #1: Provide timely monitoring and regulatory services for the workers’ compensation industry and claimants.
    • Process 100% of orders within 14 days of receipt. This typically requires issuance of determinations on 1,700 orders annually.
    Goal #2: Provide timely Stay at Work/Return to Work (SAW/RTW) assistance for injured workers, employers, and healthcare providers.
    • Mail a postcard to 100% of injured workers who file a report of injury to notify them of the assistance program.
    • Refer 100% of request for assistance to the insurer or vocational rehabilitation provider within 3 days of receipt.
    • Raise awareness of the assistance program through education and outreach to employers.
    Goal #3: Provide timely, impartial, and equitable dispute resolution of benefit issues between claimants and insurers.
    • Maintain at least a 70% to 80% resolution rate for all workers' compensation mediation petitions filed. This typically requires conducting mediation conferences and issuing recommendations on 1,300 disputes annually.
    • Complete the mediation process on 100% of cases within 80 days of receipt of a petition for mediation. The timeframes may be extended by request and agreement of the parties.
    Goal #4: Enhance the electronic collection, quality, production, and sharing of workers’ compensation information and data.
    • Complete the Annual Report by July of each year.
    • Prepare at least one special study to be made available to the workers’ compensation community each fiscal year.
    Goal #5: Develop reviews of Utilization and Treatment Guidelines and Medical Fee schedules including internet based information and technical assistance for the medical community, insurers, adjusters, employers, workers, and the general public.
    • Develop reviews of Utilization and Treatment Guidelines and Medical Fee schedules including internet based information and technical assistance for the medical community, insurers, adjusters, employers, workers, and the general public.
    • Review and update of Utilization and Treatment Guidelines on an annual basis including ongoing support and communication.
    Goal #6: Respond to independent medical reviews (IMR) and subsequent injury (SIF) reimbursements in a time manner.
    • Completion of the IMR requests within the statutory guidelines.
    • Complete SIF reimbursement requests in a timely manner.
    Goal #7: Provide technical assistance, public service announcements, and educational outreach to the public about the Workers’ Compensation Act.
    • 1. Correctly answer public inquiries. Public presentations are accurate and knowledgeable of the laws.
    • 2. Develop educational outreach for the Utilization and Treatment Guidelines, Fee Schedules, and IMRs.
    • 3. Participate in a minimum of 10 workshops and conferences annually to provide information about the programs administered by the bureau.
  • Goal #1: Provide technical assistance, public service announcements, and educational outreach to the public about Title 39, Chapters, 8, 9, 71, and 73, MCA.
    • Correctly answer public inquiries in an accurate, professional, and timely manner. Public presentations are accurate and knowledgeable of the laws.
    • Use resources and knowledge to educate employers and the general public about workers’ compensation requirements in Montana.
    • Visit construction sites to verify compliance with the workers’ compensation coverage and construction contractor registration.
    Goal #2: Respond to applications and renewal requests in a timely manner.
    • Conduct timely compliance investigations for all new applications and renewals for Independent Contractor Exemption Certificates, Contractor Registrations, Self-Insurance, Professional Employer Organizations, Subsequent Injury Fund, and Managed Care Organizations.
    Goal #3: Streamline the independent contractor process for scanning documents with a prior application to be verified and used in meeting the requirements for renewal.

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