HB4765 HFA Hornbuckle, et al 2-18 #2

      Delegates Hornbuckle, Fluharty, Hamilton, Hansen, Garcia, Lewis, Pushkin, Williams and Young move to amend HB4765 on page 1, following the enacting clause, by inserting the following:

 "CHAPTER 5. GENERAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL; BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS; MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, OFFICES, PROGRAMS, ETC.

ARTICLE 5. SALARY INCREASE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

§5-5-7. Locality Pay; required provisions.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds that in many areas throughout the state of WV, state employee salaries are increasingly uncompetitive with some border state government salaries and with those in the private sector, thus affecting recruiting and retention efforts by state agencies. Therefore, the legislature mandates a Locality Pay increase to the base pay of all state employees whose position falls within those areas designated.  Locality Pay adjustments shall be implemented beginning July 1, 2027.

(b) The Legislature further finds a designated area shall be determined by the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) of the United States federal government:

(1) Only those West Virginia counties designated on the "Locality Pay Tables" within the OPM General Schedule for wages would qualify as a designated area;

(2) The increase adjustments would be the percentage attributed to a designated area as determined by the OPM General Schedule for wages;

(3) An annual adjustment would be made and implemented on July 1^st based on the annual update of the OPM "Locality Pay Table" for that year;

(4) Adjustments shall be applied to positions regardless of classification or title;

(c) The adjustments may not be construed to mandate an increase in the salary of any elected or appointed officer of the state.   No right to grievance or private cause of action, either express or implied, is created, may be inferred, or otherwise may arise from the provisions or enactment of the policy enacted pursuant to this section."

And,

On page 6, line 42, following the period at the end of Section5 by inserting the following:

"§15-2-5a. Locality Pay; required provisions.

The superintendent shall implement a Locality Pay adjustment in accordance with the provisions of §5-5-7 of this code."

And,

On page 10, line 53, following the period at the end of Section 2, by inserting the following:

"§18A-4-5c. Locality Pay; required provisions

Each county board of education shall implement a Locality Pay adjustment in accordance with the provisions of §5-5-7 of this code for professional and service personnel.

"