3-80487 Redirections Out (0 positions, 0 employees, -18.2) Funds redirected from other services and charges to cover increases in supplies, rent, and equipment rental. Redirections In (0 positions, 0 employees, +18.2) To cover the cost of increases in office's supplies (+4.3), rental of leased space (+12.8), and rental of xerox machine (+1.1). An increase of $154.8 is requested so this agency might upgrade its staffing level to meet the demands of our mandate under the enabling legislation. A lack of sufficient staff has strained our ability to discharge these functions to a point far beyond the margin of optimum proficiency. Workload (3 positions, 3 employees, $32.1) A GS-11 Investigator/Attorney is needed to assist with the pre- A GS-7 Law Clerk is essential to the most efficient uses of the General Counsel and General Attorney's time and professional skills. The clerk is needed to thoroughly research pertinent legal questions freeing the General Counsel and General Attorney to expend their energies on more acute legal matters. Consumer education is one of the responsibilities of OCP that is The Hearing Aid Dealers and Consumers Act, D.C. Law 2-33, effective October 26, 1977, establishes standards and procedures to protect users of hearing aids. The administration and enforcement of these standards and procedures were assigned to the Office of Consumer Protection. The District of Columbia Exhaust Emission Standards Act, D.C. Law 1-32, effective April 26, 1978, provides standards to regulate the procedures and repairs required to pass EPA and District emission control standards. The responsibility of monitoring and investigating complaints is assigned to the Office of Consumer Protection. The three GS-7 investigators and one GS-5 clerk positions are necessary to staff the Section of Licensing and Registration, which will have substantial responsibility for enforcing these laws. In addition, these positions are needed to take full advantage of this agency's revenue producing potential. These positions will give us the facility to maximize revenues gained through licensing and also to expand our programs of registration, as required by law. More efficient operation of these two functions will offer greater consumer protection while at the same time provide the agency with revenue gains that will more than justify the addition of these four positions. Restoration of Base Reduction--Improved (4 positions, 4 employees, $71.5) A total of $71.5 and the positions of Administrative Law Judge BUDGET REQUEST Mr. DIXON. The Office of Consumer Protection is next. Dr. Simmons, I understand you are requesting $602,200 and 25 positions for fiscal year 1981, which is an increase of $154,800 and 11 positions above the fiscal 1980 appropriation. If you would just tell me briefly what the Office does and what the increase concerns. Dr. SIMMONS. Mr. Chairman, I am very thankful for the opportunity to appear before this body today and to represent the District of Columbia Office of Consumer Protection. INTRODUCTION OF WITNESSES I would like to introduce to you the members of my staff accompanying me here today: Mr. Fred Goldberg, General Counsel; Ms. Sylvenia Doby, our Budget Officer; Ms. Jacqueline B. Moore, our Education and Information Officer; and Ms. Glorida Swindell, our Coordinator of Investigations. We also have Ms. Ana Aldama, who is the Chairperson of the Office Advisory Committee. We are here to provide you with an overview of our agency and whatever information you will require to proceed with your impor tant undertakings. We are also here for the more immediate and definite purpose of justifying our fiscal year 1981 budget requests. Our budget is a very modest one when taken in the context of the services we now provide and the growing need for increased services in the area of consumer protection. FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE If the Chairman will indulge me for a few moments, I'd like to highlight some of our agency's major functions and its mission which will, hopefully, give you a more panoramic overview of our necessity and of our needs. The D.C. Office of Consumer Protection, as it now exists, had its genesis in the enactment of D.C. Law 1-76 on July 22, 1976. The agency was established under this law with a mandate to "provide consumers in the District with procedures for the redress of improper trade practices and for other purposes." Foremost among the "other purposes" is the responsibility of providing consumer education and information for the residents of this city. Since 1976 our jurisdiction and/or responsibilities have expanded to cover the implementation and maintenance of 10 consumer laws which protect the consumer. In this role we receive, investigate and attempt to mediate complaints involving the alleged abrogation of the rights under law which belong to our consumer constitu ents. In situations where conventional mediation efforts are ineffec tive, we are empowered to buttress our efforts with litigation in the search for solutions. When this need arises, our legal staff must act expeditiously and with competence. |