House Bill 94

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF STATE SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHOSE ANNUAL GROSS SALARY IS LESS THAN $50,000.00; TO DIRECT THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SALARY INCREASE; TO DIRECT THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE SALARY INCREASES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 25-3-40, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATES TO STATE EMPLOYEE RAISES, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The State Personnel Board shall adjust the Colonel Guy Groff State Variable Compensation Plan in a manner that will effectuate an increase in the annual compensation of each state employee whose annual gross salary is less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) by an amount equal to Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), effective July 1, 2019.

(2) If the increase in compensation provided for in this section would cause any employee's compensation to be in excess of the compensation of the executive head of the state agency or department in which he or she is employed, then that employee's compensation shall be increased only to the extent that the employee's salary will be equal in amount to the compensation of the executive head.

(3) If any state employee is unable to receive the full amount of the salary increase provided for in this section, because to award the entire allowable increase would cause that employee's base salary to exceed the end step of his or her particular job classification, the State Personnel Board shall amend the Variable Compensation Plan by increasing the end step of that particular job classification. The increase shall be in an amount necessary to enable all employees in that particular job classification to be eligible to receive the full salary increase to which they are entitled under this section.

(4) The Legislature shall appropriate the funds necessary to provide for the increase in compensation provided for in this section.

SECTION 2. Section 25-3-40, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-40. On July 1, 1978, and each year thereafter, the Mississippi Compensation Plan shall be amended to provide salary increases in such amounts and percentages as might be recommended by the Legislative Budget Office and as may be authorized by funds appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of granting incentive salary increases as deemed possible dependent upon the availability of general and special funds.

It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to implement the minimum wage as enacted by statutory law of the United States Congress subject to funds being available for that purpose. It is the intent and purpose of this section to maximize annual salary increases consistent with the availability of funds as might be determined by the Mississippi Legislature at its regular annual session and that all salary increases hereafter be made consistent with the provisions of this section.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.