The bill revises the General Laws concerning longevity payments for non-classified employees within the boards of higher education and elementary and secondary education. It introduces provisions that grant these employees a longevity payment of five percent (5%) of their base salary after ten years of service, increasing to ten percent (10%) after twenty years. However, it establishes that no further longevity increases will be granted starting July 1, 2011, with exceptions for employees under existing collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, the bill allows for the negotiation of longevity payments in future collective bargaining agreements beginning July 1, 2025.

Moreover, the bill modifies longevity payment provisions for state employees in both classified and unclassified services, stating that employees who terminate and are later reemployed will be eligible for an aggregate longevity increase based on their initial employment period. Similar to the previous provisions, it prohibits further longevity increases starting July 1, 2011, while allowing employees with existing agreements to retain their longevity percentages. The new legal language also facilitates the negotiation of longevity payments in future collective bargaining agreements starting July 1, 2025, overriding any existing rules to the contrary. The act is set to take effect upon passage, ensuring immediate implementation of these changes.

Statutes affected:
743: 16-59-7.2, 16-60-7.2, 36-6-22, 36-16.2-1