MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Fees and Salaries of Public Officers; Appropriations

By: Representative Compretta

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF PATROL OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; TO DIRECT THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SALARY INCREASE; TO DIRECT THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE SALARY INCREASE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Beginning with the 1997-1998 fiscal year, the annual compensation of each duly sworn law enforcement officer in full-time employment with the Department of Public Safety shall be increased by a percentage in accordance with the following scale:

PATROL OFFICER I 5%

PATROL OFFICER II 10%

PATROL OFFICER III 15%

PATROL OFFICER SR. 20%

The State Personnel Board, pursuant to rules promulgated by the board, shall adjust the Colonel Guy Groff State Variable Compensation Plan in a manner which will effectuate the salary increases provided for in this section.

(2) If the increases in compensation provided for in this section would cause any employee's compensation to be in excess of the compensation of the Commissioner of Public Safety, 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 Commissioner of Public Safety.

(3) If any employee is unable to receive the full amount of the salary increase provided for in subsection (1) of 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 pursuant to this act.

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

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.