House Bill 553

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-34, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY STATE EMPLOYEE WHO POSSESSES OR ATTAINS A VOCATIONAL OR TECHNICAL LICENSE AND WHO USES THE SKILLS REQUIRED BY SUCH LICENSE TO PERFORM AT LEAST 30% OF THE DUTIES OF THE EMPLOYEE'S POSITION SHALL BE PAID A SALARY AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE SALARY PAID TO OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE SUCH VOCATIONAL OR TECHNICAL LICENSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25-3-34, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-34. (1) In addition to the salary paid to any appointive state and district official and employee, such official and employee shall receive the award of an education benchmark as defined in State Personnel Board rules for the possession or attainment of any of the following:

(a) The Certified Public Manager designation;

(b) A job-related Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) degree which is not required as a minimum qualification of the position;

(c) A job related certification, licensure or registration requiring the passage of an examination, which is not required as a minimum qualification of the position.

(2) No such official or employee may receive more than a total of three (3) eligible benchmarks, only one of which may be for a job related certification, licensure or registration.

(3) Any state employee who possesses or attains a vocational or technical license and who uses the skills required by such license to perform at least thirty percent (30%) of the duties of the employee's position shall be paid a salary at least equal to the salary paid to other state employees who are employed in positions that require such vocational or technical license.

(4) The State Personnel Board shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.