Legislature(2019 - 2020)
2019-03-25 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2019-03-25 Senate Journal Page 0617 SB 98 SENATE BILL NO. 98 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to compensation for certain public officials, officers, and employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement; establishing a two-week pay period for state employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance Committees. 2019-03-25 Senate Journal Page 0618 The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Administration Governor's transmittal letter dated March 22: Dear President Giessel: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to pay for exempt employees. The bill would amend the exempt service statutes for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute to clarify that the executive director and employees of those entities are in the exempt service. The bill also would set a maximum salary for most exempt employees at $300,000.00, provide that an agency or department with exempt positions may adopt a salary schedule for those positions to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director for approval, and require that any salary increases and bonuses for exempt positions not subject to an approved salary schedule be approved by the OMB Director. The bill proposes to amend the statute providing for pay increments for classified and partially-exempt employees who are not members of a collective bargaining unit so that employees at the final step of a pay range would be entitled to pay increments based on job performance every three years instead of every two years. The bill would permit the Director of Personnel to establish a bi-weekly pay procedure. The bill would not apply to persons who are members of a collective bargaining unit established under AS 23.40.070 - 23.40.260 (Public Employment Relations Act). The bill would reduce overall personnel costs and promote a sustainable budget by reducing the number of positions that may receive salaries beyond that authorized by the statutory pay schedule 2019-03-25 Senate Journal Page 0619 for exempt and partially-exempt service employees, prohibit bonuses for executive exempt positions without the approval of the OMB Director, and establish a more affordable pay increment policy. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Michael J. Dunleavy Governor