Senate Finance routes bill to increase salaries for three state commissions

The Senate Finance Committee on Oct. 12 introduced RS 32564, a bill that would raise statutory salaries for commissioners at the Public Utilities Commission, the State Tax Commission and the Industrial Commission.

Keith Bybee, division manager of budget policy analysis, told the committee, “This is a bill that increases the salary for, 3 of our commissions, the Industrial Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the State Tax Commission.” The measure sets specific salary amounts listed in the statement of purpose: the Public Utilities Commission commissioner’s salary would increase from $126,424 to $129,648; the State Tax Commissioner’s salary would move from $117,396 to $120,620; and the Industrial Commissioner’s salary would change from $123,126 to $126,350.

Bybee said the adjustment is handled separately from the regular classified employee compensation changes. He explained these commissioner salaries are set by statute and therefore require separate statutory action rather than the regular classified employee compensation process.

Vice Chair Woodward moved to print the routing slip for RS 32564; Senator Carlson seconded the motion. The committee approved printing by unanimous consent and the bill was ordered printed and routed for further Senate action.

The committee did not take a final vote on substantive enactment or funding during this session; Bybee said that, if the Senate advances the bill, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) would later return to consider and approve any funding required to implement the pay changes.

No questions from members changed the reported salary figures during discussion.

The committee recessed to other agenda items after printing the routing slip; the bill will proceed following ordinary Senate and JFAC procedures.