This bill amends the Code of West Virginia by introducing new sections that mandate executive branch agencies, the State Police, and county boards of education to develop and report an area market rate salary adjustment policy. The legislation recognizes that certain areas of the state are experiencing higher economic growth and cost of living increases, which necessitates salary adjustments to retain valuable public employees. The bill sets a deadline of July 1, 2026, for these agencies to create their policies, which must include specific criteria for salary adjustments, provisions for merit-based increases, and stipulations regarding the applicability of the policy to various positions.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes that no private cause of action or right to grievance will arise from the implementation of these salary adjustment policies. The policies must be submitted to key legislative and executive offices by September 1, 2025, and are required to be reviewed and updated annually. The intent of the legislation is to ensure that salaries are competitive and reflective of local market conditions, thereby improving employee retention and overall public service quality.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-5-7, 15-2-5a, 18A-4-5e