Panel hears review of Senate Bill 392 to replace state pay plan; raises slated for roughly 15,900 workers

A Joint Budget Committee personnel meeting reviewed Senate Bill 392, the proposed class-and-compensation pay plan intended to align state salaries with the labor market, consolidate thousands of job titles and create career ladders. State personnel officials said the plan would raise pay for about 15,900 employees and be implemented July 1 if enacted.

The committee heard testimony from state officials who said the bill replaces the existing pay structure, reduces the number of job titles and establishes multiple pay tables for different job categories. "This pay plan that is being proposed is not apples to apples with the current pay plan. It's entirely new," said Senator Brianne Davis (State Senate District 25). Kaye Barnhill of the Department of Transformation and Shared Services summarized the technical changes: the plan consolidates roughly 2,250 job titles to about 850, creates six pay tables (law enforcement and safety; state general services; specialized services; medical; information systems and technology; and executive), and builds job families with career ladders so…