Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 172 of the Fiscal Session
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S4/25/24
2 94th General Assembly A Bill
3 Fiscal Session, 2024 SENATE BILL 77
4
5 By: Senators B. Davis, F. Love
6 By: Representative Wooten
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION AND
10 COMPENSATION ACT; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR
11 OTHER PURPOSES.
12
13
14 Subtitle
15 TO AMEND THE UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION AND
16 COMPENSATION ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN
17 EMERGENCY.
18
19
20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
21
22 SECTION 1. TEMPORARY LANGUAGE. DO NOT CODIFY. MARKET ADJUSTMENT.
23 (a) An employee under the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act,
24 § 21-5-201 et seq., may receive a market adjustment to his or her base salary
25 that shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the employee’s base salary.
26 (b) An employee shall not receive more than one (1) market adjustment
27 under this section.
28 (c) A market adjustment under this section may be awarded to an
29 employee whether or not the market adjustment would result in the salary for
30 the employee exceeding the maximum pay level for the grade assigned to the
31 employee’s classification.
32 (d) This section is effective on and after July 1, 2024.
33 (e) This section expires June 30, 2025.
34
35 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 21-5-209(e), concerning the compensation
36 plan for state employees, is amended to read as follows:
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1 (e)(1) The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the
2 General Salaries pay table effective July 1, 2017 2024, and thereafter, for
3 the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this
4 subchapter to which a classification title and General Salaries salary grade
5 have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation
6 act of the state agency:
7
8 GENERAL SALARIES
9 GS1 $22,880 $32,405 $27,390 $42,046 $31,900 $51,686
10 GS2 $23,335 $32,405 $28,585 $42,046 $33,836 $51,686
11 GS3 $26,034 $32,405 $31,892 $42,046 $37,749 $51,686
12 GS4 $29,046 $32,405 $35,581 $42,046 $42,117 $51,686
13 GS5 $32,405 $32,405 $39,696 $42,046 $46,987 $51,686
14 GS6 $36,155 $44,290 $46,912 $52,425 $57,668
15 GS7 $40,340 $49,417 $52,342 $58,493 $64,343
16 GS8 $45,010 $55,137 $58,401 $65,265 $71,792
17 GS9 $50,222 $61,522 $65,164 $72,822 $80,105
18 GS10 $56,039 $68,648 $72,711 $81,257 $89,383
19 GS11 $62,531 $76,600 $81,134 $90,670 $99,737
20 GS12 $69,776 $85,476 $90,535 $101,175 $111,293
21 GS13 $77,862 $95,381 $101,026 $112,900 $124,190
22 GS14 $86,887 $106,437 $112,736 $125,986 $138,585
23 GS15 $96,960 $118,776 $125,806 $140,592 $154,652
24
25 (2) The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for
26 the Information Technology Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017 2024,
27 and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies
28 covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Information
29 Technology Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this
30 subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
31
32 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SALARIES
33 IT1 $33,403 $40,919 $43,340 $48,434 $53,278
34 IT2 $37,266 $45,651 $48,352 $54,035 $59,439
35 IT3 $41,578 $50,933 $53,948 $60,288 $66,317
36 IT4 $46,391 $56,829 $60,193 $67,267 $73,994
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1 IT5 $51,762 $63,408 $67,161 $75,054 $82,560
2 IT6 $57,755 $70,750 $74,938 $83,745 $92,120
3 IT7 $64,445 $78,945 $83,617 $93,445 $102,790
4 IT8 $71,704 $87,837 $93,035 $103,970 $114,367
5 IT9 $80,242 $98,297 $104,115 $116,351 $127,987
6 IT10 $89,541 $109,688 $116,180 $129,835 $142,819
7 IT11 $99,920 $122,402 $129,647 $144,884 $159,373
8 IT12 $111,504 $136,592 $144,677 $161,681 $177,850
9
10 (3) The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for
11 the Medical Professional Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017 2024, and
12 thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered
13 by this subchapter to which a classification title and Medical Professional
14 Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter
15 and the appropriation act of the state agency:
16
17 MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SALARIES
18 MP1 $63,830 $75,958 $80,347 $88,058 $96,864
19 MP2 $71,403 $85,683 $90,682 $99,964 $109,961
20 MP3 $79,879 $96,654 $102,325 $113,428 $124,771
21 MP4 $89,368 $109,029 $115,464 $128,690 $141,559
22 MP5 $99,991 $122,989 $130,289 $145,987 $160,586
23 MP6 $111,884 $138,736 $147,016 $165,588 $182,147
24 MP7 $125,200 $156,500 $165,890 $187,800 $206,580
25 MP8 $140,109 $176,537 $187,186 $212,966 $234,263
26 MP9 $156,804 $199,140 $211,215 $241,478 $265,626
27 MP10 $175,620 $224,033 $236,561 $270,455 $297,501
28
29 (4) The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for
30 the Senior Executive Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017 2024, and
31 thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered
32 by this subchapter to which a classification title and Senior Executive
33 Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter
34 and the appropriation act of the state agency:
35
36 SENIOR EXECUTIVE SALARIES
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1 SE1 $108,110 $127,655 $135,015 $147,200 $161,920
2 SE2 $120,543 $138,822 $146,677 $157,100 $172,810
3 SE3 $134,406 $150,703 $159,053 $167,000 $183,700
4 SE4 $149,862 $165,681 $174,756 $181,500 $199,650
5 SE5 $167,096 $184,398 $194,483 $201,700 $221,870
6
7 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 21-5-214(d)(2), concerning compensation
8 plan provisions, is amended to read as follows:
9 (2)(A) An agency director may approve a special rate of pay under
10 subdivision (d)(1) of this section up to fifteen percent (15%) above the
11 entry pay level for the grade assigned to the classification and shall report
12 all actions under the office’s procedures.
13 (B) The office may approve a special rate of pay under
14 subdivision (d)(1) of this section above fifteen percent (15%) up to thirty
15 percent (30%) forty percent (40%) above the entry pay level for the grade
16 assigned to the classification.
17 (C) The office may approve a special rate of pay pursuant to
18 subdivision (d)(1) of this section above thirty percent (30%) forty percent
19 (40%) up to the maximum pay level for the grade assigned to the
20 classification after review by the Legislative Council or, if the General
21 Assembly is in session, the Joint Budget Committee.
22
23 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 21-5-221(e), concerning compensation
24 differentials, is amended to read as follows:
25 (e) An additional ten percent (10%), but not to exceed a total of
26 twelve percent (12%), hazardous duty differential may be authorized for
27 employees occupying positions assigned to a maximum security unit or facility
28 if the regularly assigned work schedules expose employees at least eighty-
29 five percent (85%) of the work time to clear, direct, and unavoidable hazards
30 from clients, inmates, or patients who are in units or facilities that are
31 classified as maximum security.
32
33 SECTION 5. Arkansas Code Title 21, Chapter 5, Subchapter 2, is amended
34 to add additional sections to read as follows:
35 21-5-227. Special compensation awards.
36 (a)(1) A state agency may provide a special compensation award to an
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1 employee:
2 (A) To recognize the employee’s outstanding performance in
3 successfully completing a significant project or job assignment or completing
4 a major project milestone; or
5 (B) Due to the assignment of temporary job
6 responsibilities for a period not to exceed six (6) months that:
7 (i) Are beyond the scope of work typically performed
8 by the employee; and
9 (ii) Have produced measurable results that enhance
10 the mission and goals of the state agency.
11 (2) The state agency shall determine whether to offer a special
12 compensation award and, if so, the type of special compensation award to
13 offer.
14 (b) A special compensation award may consist of:
15 (1) A lump-sum bonus payment not to exceed five thousand dollars
16 ($5,000) per award;
17 (2)(A) Up to forty (40) hours of incentive leave that shall:
18 (i) Be used by the end of the calendar year
19 following the calendar year in which the award of incentive leave was made;
20 and
21 (ii) Not carry forward to the subsequent calendar
22 year.
23 (B) If an employee receives an award of incentive leave
24 under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section, the incentive leave shall:
25 (i) Expire if the employee resigns or is terminated
26 from employment before the end of the calendar year following the calendar
27 year in which the award of incentive leave was made; and
28 (ii) Not be liquidated by a lump-sum payment to the
29 employee when he or she separates from the state agency; or
30 (3)(A) A lump-sum payment of an employee’s annual leave.
31 (B) A lump-sum payment under subdivision (b)(3)(A) of this
32 section shall:
33 (i) Not exceed forty (40) hours of annual leave;
34 (ii) Be paid at the employee’s hourly rate; and
35 (iii) Not reduce the employee’s combined balance of
36 annual leave, holiday leave, and birthday leave to less than eighty (80)
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1 hours.
2 (c)(1)(A) A state agency wishing to provide special compensation
3 awards to employees shall prepare a written plan for administering special
4 compensation awards.
5 (B) The written plan under this subsection shall include:
6 (i) An explanation of how the special compensation
7 awards will be implemented;
8 (ii) A list of the classifications eligible for
9 special compensation awards;
10 (iii) Objective, measurable standards for the
11 selection of employees within the listed classifications under subdivision
12 (c)(1)(B)(ii) of this section who are eligible for a special compensation
13 award; and
14 (iv) A description of the special compensation
15 awards that may be provided to employees.
16 (2) The written plan under this subsection shall be reviewed by
17 the Office of Personnel Management.
18 (3) When the office has completed its review of the written plan
19 under subdivision (c)(2) of this section, the office shall refer the written
20 plan to the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in regular
21 session, fiscal session, or extraordinary session, the Joint Budget
22 Committee, for its approval.
23 (4) A state agency shall not provide a special compensation
24 award before the approval of the state agency's written plan for
25 administering special compensation awards under subdivision (c)(3) of this
26 section.
27 (5) If the state agency amends the written plan following its
28 approval under subdivision (c)(3) of this section, it shall:
29 (A) Submit the amended written plan for review by the
30 office and approval by Legislative Council or the Joint Budget Committee in
31 the same manner provided by subdivisions (c)((1)-(3) of this section; and
32 (B) Not provide a special compensation award under the
33 provisions of the amended written plan before the approval of the state
34 agency's amended written plan.
35 (d)(1) After a state agency's written plan for administering special
36 compensation awards has been approved under subdivision (c)(3) of this
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1 section, the state agency may submit a request for a special compensation
2 award to the office for approval.
3 (2) A request under subdivision (a)(1)(A) of this section shall
4 include the following:
5 (A) A description of the project or assignment prompting
6 the special compensation award;
7 (B) A description of the work that was completed as part
8 of the project or assignment;
9 (C) The name or names of the employee or employees who
10 would receive the special compensation award;
11 (D) A description of how the employee or employees were
12 selected for the project or assignment that prompted the request for the
13 special compensation award; and
14 (E) A description of the special compensation award that
15 would be provided to the employee or employees.
16 (3) A request under subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this section shall
17 include the following:
18 (A) A list of the regularly assigned job responsibilities
19 of the employee or employees;
20 (B) A list of the temporary job responsibilities assigned
21 to the employee or employees;
22 (C) The name or names of the employee or employees who
23 would receive the special compensation award;
24 (D) A description of how the employee or employees were
25 selected for the temporary job responsibilities that prompted the request for
26 the special compensation award; and
27 (E) A description of the special compensation award that
28 would be provided to the employee or employees.
29 (4) A request for a special compensation award under this
30 subsection shall be consistent with the written plan for administering
31 special compensation awards of the state agency.
32 (5) A state agency shall not provide a special compensation
33 award before the approval of the special compensation award by the office
34 under this subsection.
35 (e) A lump-sum special compensation award under this section shall be:
36 (1) Subject to withholding of all applicable state and federal
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1 taxes; and
2 (2) Included by retirement systems in determining retirement
3 benefits.
4 (f)(1)(A) An employee shall not receive a special compensation award
5 under this section more than two (2) times in a biennium.
6 (B) The total compensation received from lump-sum bonus
7 payments under subdivision (b)(1) of this section during a biennium shall not
8 exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
9 (2) A special compensation award under this section may be
10 awarded to an employee whether or not the special compensation award would
11 result in the salary for the employee exceeding the maximum pay level fo