Provides for the compensation payable to certain members of the division of state police and professional, scientific and technical service employees; repealer

Section 2 of the bill would repeal State Finance Law § 207-b(2)(a) and replace it with a new provision that provides for continued payments to the Employee Benefit Fund at $49 per member per year for the period April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011.

Section 3 of the bill would amend Civil Service Law § 130(2)(c)(4) to make corrections in the salary schedule applicable to members of the professional, scientific, and technical services unit.

Sections 4 and 5 of the bill would amend Executive Law §§ 216-b(2) and (3) to provide an increased longevity award to members of affected units in each year of the collective bargaining agreement. Effective April 1, 2007, the current longevity system would be replaced and members of affected units would be entitled to receive longevity awards according to the following schedule: (a) 6 to 10 years of service - $430; (b) 11 to 15 years of service - $480; and (c) 16 to 25 years of service - $530. Effective April 1, 2008, such amounts will increase to $460, $510, and $560, respectively. Effective April 1, 2009, such amounts will increase to $500, $550, and $600, respectively. Effective April 1, 2010, such amounts will increase to $540, $590, and $640 respectively.

Section 6 of the bill would provide for a retroactive lump sum payment for members of the collective negotiating unit consisting of Troopers in the Division of State Police who were at the Trainee 1 step at any point between April 1, 2007 and September 16, 2008. Such members would receive a 3 percent increase to the basic annual salary received at the Trainee 1 rate for the period between April 1, 2007 and the completion of their service at the Trainee 1 step.

Section 7 of the bill would continue the location pay benefit of $200 for members of affected units whose official workstation is Monroe County, and it would increase the location pay benefit provided to members of affected units whose official work stations are in New York City or in the counties of Rockland, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk Counties by the same percentage increases as applied to basic annual salaries under section 1 of this bill, as follows: Effective April 1, 2007, such amount will increase to $1,392. Effective April 1, 2008, such amount will increase to $1,434. Effective April 1, 2009, such amount will increase to $1,477. Effective April 1, 2010, such amount will increase to $1,536.

Section 8 of the bill would increase the supplemental location pay benefit, as follows: Effective April 1, 2007 members of affected units who work in (a) Orange, Putnam or Dutchess would receive $1,160, (b) Rockland or Westchester County, or the City of New York would receive $ 1,739, and (c) in Nassau or Suffolk County would receive $2,029. Effective April 1, 2008. such amounts will increase to $1,195, $1,791, and $2,090, respectively. Effective April 1, 2009, such amounts will increase to $1,230, $1,845, and $2,153, respectively. Effective April 1, 2010, such amounts will increase to $1,280, $1,918, and $2,239, respectively.

Section 9 of the bill would increase the additional compensation received by members of affected units in recognition of such members' expanded duties by $1,200 annually. Effective April 1, 2007, such amount will increase to $3,852. Effective April 1, 2008, such amount will increase to $5,502. Effective April 1, 2009, such amount will increase to $6,252. Effective April 1, 2010, such amount will increase to $7,452.

Section 10 of the bill would establish an annual payment of $1,200, effective April 1, 2010, for members of affected units in recognition of the hazardous duty performed by such members.

Section 11 of the bill would increase the command pay benefit paid to members of the collective negotiating unit consisting of Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers in the Division of State Police by the same percentage increases as applied to basic annual salaries under section 1 of the bill. Effective April 1, 2007, such amount will increase to $289. Effective April 1, 2008, such amount will increase to $298. Effective April 1, 2009, such amount will increase to $307. Effective April 1, 2010, such amount will increase to $319.

Section 12 of the bill would continue the committee to study and assess physical fitness standards for members of affected units. Effective March 31, 2003, members of affected units would receive a fitness bonus if found to be eligible against established standards. This section also permits the Division of State Police and the employee organization representing members of affected units to mutually agree to spend monies appropriated for these bonuses for other purposes.

Section 13 would continue the committee on health benefits for the collective negotiating unit consisting of Troopers in the Division of State Police for the period April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011, funded at a level of $12,500 per year. This section would also continue the committee on health benefits for the collective negotiating unit consisting of Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers in the Division of State Police for the period April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011, funded at the level of $5,000 per year.

Section 14 would provide professional development funding for members of affected units, which supports the tuition reimbursement program, the master's program and the employee assistance program. During the

period April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011, $92,400 will be provided annually to each unit for this purpose.

Section 15 of the bill would provide for payments to members of affected units who possess or obtain a recognized degree. Such members shall continue to receive a lump sum payment of $250 for an Associate's Degree, $500 for a Bachelor's Degree, and $750 for a graduate degree.

Section 16 of the bill would continue the member in charge of satellite station compensation. Members of the collective negotiating unit consisting of Troopers in the Division of State Police who are designated "members in charge" of a satellite station shall continue to receive $435 per year.

Section 17 of the bill would provide for continued payment for members of affected units who are required to work short swings. Effective March 31, 2003, members of affected units who are required to work short swings shall receive compensation of $30 for each short swing they are required to work and actually work.

Section 18 of the bill would continue lump sum payments for unused sick leave at retirement, as provided in section 9 of Chapter 9 of the Laws of 2001 and in section 9 of Chapter 10 of the Laws of 2001. Unused sick days will be cashed out according to the following formula: the number of accumulated and unused sick days, not to exceed 300, will be reduced by 165 with the result being multiplied by the member's daily rate of pay. The lump sum payable will be equal to one-fifth of such amount.

Section 19 of the bill would continue the overtime meal allowance for members of affected units.

Section 20 of the bill would provide that salary increases and benefit modifications shall not be implemented until the Director of Employee Relations informs the Director of the Budget and the Comptroller that the agreement that provides for these increases and modifications has been ratified.

Section 21 of the bill would provide that appropriations contained therein shall be available to the State for the payment and publication of grievance arbitration settlements and awards.

Section 22 of the bill would provide the date on which members of affected units would be entitled to the salary increases provided by this bill.

Section 23 of the bill would provide that until payment is made pursuant to this bill, members of affected units shall receive such payment as is currently provided for their respective positions. When basic annual salaries are first paid pursuant to this bill, such members shall be entitled to a lump sum payment for the difference between the salaries to which they were entitled since April 1, 2007 and the compensation they actually received.

Section 24 would authorize the Comptroller to pay any amounts required by the provisions of the bill. To the extent that existing appropriations available to any state department or agency are insufficient to accomplish the purposes set forth in this section, the Director of the Budget would be authorized to allocate to the various departments and agencies the amounts necessary to make such payments.

Section 25 would appropriate monies to pay for personal services, other than personal services and fringe benefits, and to carry out the provisions of this act.

Section 26 would provide that the bill take effect immediately and be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2007.

Existing law

Chapter 157 of the Laws of 2005 addresses a variety of terms and conditions of employment established by the previous collective bargaining agreement for the members of these units for the period of April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2007.

Executive Law §215 establishes the current salary schedules for members of this unit.

State Finance Law §207-b authorizes payments to an employee benefit fund on behalf of members of affected units under interest arbitration awards and agreements.

Executive Law § 216-b(2) establishes the longevity award schedule for Troopers in the Division of State Police. Executive Law § 216-b(3) establishes the longevity schedule for Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers in the Division of State Police.

Prior legislative history

None.

Statement in support

This bill is necessary to implement the terms of collective bargaining agreements negotiated and agreed to by the Executive Branch of the State of New York and the employee organization representing the affected units.

Budget implications

This bill includes $105.41 million in All Funds appropriations ($90.5 million in General Fund) to support the costs of this act during the 2009-10 fiscal year. The 2009-10 financial plan accommodates the costs associated with this bill.

Effective date

This bill would take effect immediately and would be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2007.