Act No. 130 (H.780). Executive branch; judiciary; state employees; compensation

An act relating to compensation for certain state employees

This act is also referred to as the "Pay Act." Sec. 1 provides the discretionary ability to restore in fiscal year 2013 the amounts equal to the three-percent reduction in pay taken on July 1, 2010 by exempt employees in the executive branch earning under $60,000.00 annually and the five-percent reduction in pay taken on January 1, 2009 by exempt employees in the executive branch earning $60,000.00 or more annually. Sec. 2 provides the discretionary ability to provide exempt employees in the executive branch with cost-of-living adjustments in fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Sec. 3 provides the rates of annual salary adjustments, increases, and bonuses available to certain state employees in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 pursuant to 32 V.S.A. §§ 1003(b) and 1020(b). Secs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 of the act provide salary adjustments for certain state employees in the executive and judicial branches whose salaries or daily compensation are set in statute. Sec. 11 advises that the compensation provided in this act is funded by appropriations made in H.781, now Act No. 162.

Finally, Secs. 8 and 12 of this act provide for two studies. Sec. 8 requires the court administrator to conduct a weighted caseload study of the probate division and to report his or her findings to the senate and house committees on government operations by January 31, 2013. Sec. 12(a) requires the commissioner of human resources to conduct a caseload and workload study of deputy state's attorneys, public defenders, assistant attorneys general, and staff attorneys in the executive branch and to report his or her findings to the general assembly by March 15, 2013. Correspondingly, Sec. 12(b) requires the secretary of administration to create a new pay plan for all exempt attorneys in the executive branch who perform legal services in order to create parity and equity in their compensation, and requires the secretary to consider the results of the human resources commissioner's study and the relative caseloads and workloads of these attorneys when creating the new pay plan. Moreover, this subsection designates the secretary of administration as having final authority over the compensation of exempt attorneys in the executive branch; requires him or her to approve all salaries paid to these attorneys; and requires him or her to administer the pay plan to ensure that parity and equity in the compensation of these attorneys is maintained.

Effective Date: July 1, 2012

Also see: Commerce and Trade; Act No. 110 (H.556); An act relating to creating a private activity bond advisory committee

Also see: Education; Act No. 98 (H.440); An act relating to creating an agency and secretary of education and clarifying the purpose of the state board

Also see: Health; Act No. 76 (H.755); An act relating to extending the deadline for adoption of certain health department rules

Also see: Health; Act No. 135 (H.627); An act relating to an opioid addiction treatment system

Also see: Legislature; Act No. 139 (S.252); An act relating to the repeal or revision of reporting requirements

Also see: Municipal Government; Act No. 155 (S.106); An act relating to miscellaneous changes to municipal government law, to internal financial controls, to the management of search and rescue operations, and to emergency medical services

Also see: Professions and Occupations; Act No. 116 (H.524); An act relating to the secretary of state and the regulation of professions and occupations

Also see: Taxation and Fees; Act No. 143 (H.782); An act relating to miscellaneous tax changes for 2012