The commissioner shall develop caseload standards based on the actual duties of employees in each program area of the department and may take into consideration existing professional caseload standards. Standards shall be reasonable and achievable.

A caseload standards committee shall be established and composed of two employees from each program area in each region. The members shall be elected by the employees from each program area from among all the employees in the program area. A subcommittee composed of the members from each program of services provided shall meet with the appropriate office director to develop caseload standards for each program. The committee shall meet at least twice yearly and shall report recommendations to the commissioner through the personnel advisory committee representative under existing procedures.

Representatives of an employee organization may serve in an advisory role.

The caseload standards which are developed establishing minimum and maximum caseloads shall be advisory for the department in the hiring of staff and in individual caseload assignments, and may be used as a basis of the department of health and human resources personal services budget request to the governor and the Legislature.

As used in this section:

"Caseload standards" means a measurable numerical minimum and maximum workload which an employee can reasonably be expected to perform in a normal workday or workweek, based on the number, variety and complexity of cases handled or number of different job functions performed.

"Professional caseload standards" means standards established by national standard setting authorities, when they exist, or caseload standards used in other states which have similar job titles.