Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Progress Report: Division of Administrative Hearings Significantly Improves the Method of Assessing Fees

Report 04-48, July 2004




Report Summary

As we recommended in our December 2002 review, the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) has implemented a time tracking system and began billing state agencies for time actually spent in hearings. The division also no longer bills for cancelled and continued hearing hours. However, DOAH's revised time tracking system does not require judges to track non-hearing time spent on cases

DOAH has reduced the costs passed on to state agencies when prorating its budget in two ways.

  • DOAH increased its contract rate for hearing services provided to other entities from $100 to $129 per hour to fully cover costs, which generated an additional $77,054 in revenue.
  • DOAH now assesses the Workers' Compensation Appeals Program for administrative support. In Fiscal Year 2004‑05, the program was assessed $435,431 for administrative costs.

DOAH continues to conduct hearings for certain entities at little or no charge. The Legislature could consider authorizing DOAH to bill for the cost of hearing services that it is not recovering through other means.


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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
government, government support, hearings, administrative hearings, adjudication, disputes, cases, prorate, administrative law, judges, fee assessment, workers' compensation, appeals, contracts, subsidizes, Baker Act