MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Simmons

AN ACT TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF STATE SERVICE EMPLOYEES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2000, 2001, 2002 AND 2003; FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000, ALL STATE SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHOSE ANNUAL SALARY IS LESS THAN $50,000.00 SHALL RECEIVE AN INCREASE IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO $500.00 EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL STATE SERVICE EMPLOYEES SHALL RECEIVE AN INCREASE IN ANNUAL COMPENSATION IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO 5% OF THEIR ANNUAL BASE SALARY, ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH FOLLOWING THEIR ANNIVERSARY HIRE DATE, DURING EACH OF THE FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003; 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; 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 which will effectuate an increase in the annual compensation of eligible state service employees as follows:

(a) On July 1, 1999, all eligible state service employees with an annual base salary of less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) will receive an increase to their annual base salary by an amount equal to Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) with the resulting annual base salary not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00).

(b) During Fiscal Years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, all eligible state service employees shall receive an increase to their annual base salary by an amount equal to five percent (5%) of their annual base salary on the first day of the month following their anniversary hire date.

(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 executive head of the state agency or department in which he 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.

SECTION 2. If any state employee is unable to receive the full amount of the salary increase provided for in Section 1 of this act 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.

SECTION 3. To be eligible to receive increases provided for in Section 1 of this act, employees may not have a current performance rating below "meets expectations," as of the effective date of the increase. Employees who subsequently receive a performance rating of "meets expectations" or above shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating.

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

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.