The bill introduced on March 17, 2025, seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section, 17-2A-4c, which authorizes the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to implement locality pay for employees of the Division of Highways. This pay is intended for employees working in specific jurisdictions identified by the commissioner as needing additional compensation to effectively recruit and retain staff in a competitive job market.

Under this new provision, eligible employees may receive a locality pay differential of up to $10,000 per year, which can be added to their regular salary or hourly pay. This differential may also exceed the maximum salary range established for their position classification. The commissioner is tasked with creating a policy directive to outline the rules for implementing this locality pay system, aimed at enhancing the planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, and traffic regulation of state road projects.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17-2A-4c