The proposed bill, titled the "State Employee Critical Shortage Retention Program Act," aims to provide bonus payments to certain qualified employees in specific state departments. A "qualified employee" includes conservation officers, various positions within the classified civil service, and state police officers, while "qualified employers" encompass departments such as state police, corrections, health and human services, natural resources, and environment, Great Lakes, and energy.

Under the bill, qualified employers are mandated to pay a bonus of $5,000 to qualified employees who complete two years of service between the act's effective date and September 30, 2026. An additional $5,000 bonus is available for those who complete another two years of service before September 30, 2028, with the total bonus not exceeding $10,000. The act will only take effect if Senate Bill No. 262 of the 103rd Legislature is enacted into law.