Committee calls for review of early-resolution programs after members flag delays and underuse

Committee members discussed early-resolution programs at length and identified both potential benefits and gaps.

Members said early-resolution programs can reduce attorney fees and speed case resolution, but several witnesses and members told the committee the state program and some agency programs are underutilized or slower than intended. "There's no evidence that early resolution would affect the number of claims coming in or the amount paid per claim," one participant noted, while others said even if indemnity payouts are unchanged, early-resolution can reduce transactional costs and shorten timelines for claimants.

Members debated scope: should the report focus on the AGO's early resolution process, or recommend a broader review of early-resolution programs across state and local agencies? Tina recommended widening the review to capture differences across agencies and to identify factors causing delays. Brian and Alex emphasized the need for data comparing outcomes and attorney fees across resolution pathways and proposed recommending a study or data-gathering effort as part of the report.

The committee asked staff to redraft the relevant recommendation to note data limitations, encourage examination of the AGO program and other agency programs, and, where appropriate, suggest process tweaks or resource additions to improve speed and uptake.