Senate committee hears opposition to bill changing pay plans for some state sworn officers

The Senate Committee on Government Operations on Feb. 25, 2045 heard testimony on Senate Bill 58, legislation that would require changes to pay plans for certain state law-enforcement officers and firefighters.

The Department of Human Resources opposed the bill in testimony, saying the proposal would interfere with collective bargaining and contains conflicting timing provisions that would be difficult to reconcile with current contracts and bargaining schedules. The department also urged the committee to request a fiscal note to estimate any cost implications.

Commissioner Beth Fassnidgee, Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources, told the committee, “we don’t support this bill. It is getting in the middle of collective bargaining,” and said pay plans and related changes must normally be bargained under state law. John (director of labor relations), a department labor-relations official, added that “this bill does directly undermine the collective bargaining relationship…