House Bill 336

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO FULLY FUND THE COLONEL GUY GROFF STATE VARIABLE COMPENSATION PLAN IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF ALL STATE SERVICE EMPLOYEES OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD; TO REQUIRE THE SALARY INCREASES TO BE IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO NO LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT EACH YEAR; TO DIRECT THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SALARY INCREASE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The Legislature shall appropriate the funds necessary for fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 to provide full funding for the Colonel Guy Groff State Variable Compensation Plan in order to increase the compensation of each state service for each fiscal year.

SECTION 2. If full funding of the Colonel Guy Groff State Variable Compensation Plan during fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 does not result in an increase in the compensation of each state service employee for each fiscal year in an amount equal to no less than five percent (5%) of that employee's salary in effect on the day immediately preceding the first day of the fiscal year in which the increase is to take effect, the State Personnel Board shall adjust the variable compensation plan in a manner that will effectuate the required minimum increase in the compensation of each state service employee for each fiscal year. However, 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 3. If any state employee is unable to receive the full amount of any salary increase provided for in Section 2 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 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.