"Our Commitment "

by Cliff J. Vanell, Director Vol. 6 January 1998

Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull often uses the R.I.C.E. acronym to describe her core values:

R: RESPONSIBILITY;
I: INTEGRITY;
C: COMMITMENT;
E: EFFICIENCY.

The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) continually strives for excellence, something that all who come before us have a right to expect. Certainly responsibility, integrity, commitment and efficiency are necessary if we are to achieve our goal.

The OAH carefully manages cases to achieve the efficiency necessary to provide prompt hearings (within 60 days of request) as mandated by statute. For annual 1997, the conclusion rate of cases (defined as the number of cases concluded divided by the number of new cases scheduled) was 98%. On average for every month in 1997, 195 cases were concluded for every 197.5 cases scheduled. 128 cases per month proceeded through the hearing process, the balance being vacated primarily as the result of settlement. But the OAH cannot rest here. Scheduling within guidelines remains a challenge. Proposed statutory changes mandate accelerated hearings which we must prepare for. An expected increase of 300-400 cases resulting from newly created hearings through the Department of Economic Security (A.R.S. § 8-546.12) requires expanding staff and making even greater strides in case management.

The OAH is heavily investing in continued education of its administrative law judges in order to better do its work. Subject matter sections within the OAH are being refined to enhance experience. On-line research has been added to allow quick access to case law. In addition, administrative law judges may now call up all prior ALJ decisions to ensure principled consistency in the disposition of cases.

Responses of those completing evaluations continue to reflect our commitment to our mission statement. We thank those who continue to support our efforts.

The OAH is part of a larger community. The 14th annual conference of directors of the various OAH-style state agencies nationwide met in Charleston, South Carolina in November 1997 to discuss common issues and exchange ideas. Topics ranged from office automation to statutory and constitutional law impacting on the hearing function. Currently an electronic network is being set up to facilitate the flow of information and to provide rapid response to questions and requests for assistance among the agencies.

The process of unifying the administrative hearings function in OAH-style agencies began in 1961 with California. The current states having adopted the model, with year of inception are: Arizona (1996), California (1961), Colorado (1976), Florida (1974), Georgia (1995), Illinois (1997), Iowa (1986), Louisiana (1996), Maryland (1990), Massachusetts (1974), Michigan (1996), Minnesota (1976), Missouri (1965), New Jersey (1979), North Carolina (1986), North Dakota (1991), South Carolina (1994), South Dakota (1994), Tennessee (1975), Texas (1991), Washington (1981), Wisconsin (1978) and Wyoming (1987). To date there are 316 years of cumulative experience with 281,127 administrative hearings being conducted by OAH-style agencies every year.

I look forward to continuing to consult with my fellow directors as I work to foster the Arizona OAH as a fair, impartial, independent, prompt and skilled forum for the benefit of those agencies and parties who come before it.