This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia to provide a pay raise for administrative employees, staff, and non-uniformed personnel within the Division of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. The legislation recognizes the challenges these divisions face in recruiting and retaining employees and proposes a pay equity salary adjustment. Specifically, it introduces a new provision that mandates a 10 percent increase in annual pay for the specified personnel, effective July 1, 2026.

The bill outlines the funding sources for these salary adjustments, indicating that the increases for the Division of Corrections and Division of Juvenile Services will come from general revenue appropriations, while the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority's adjustments will be funded through a special revenue fund. Additionally, the bill clarifies that if the salary increase results in an employee exceeding the maximum allowable pay for their grade, the increase will still be implemented. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance compensation in order to improve workforce stability in these critical state services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-5-4b