Personnel committee adopts policy to allow time-and-a-half pay under DUI grant

The Hawkins County Personnel Committee on March 17 approved a policy to allow officers who work under a state-funded DUI enforcement grant to receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked under that grant.

An unnamed sheriff’s office representative asked the committee to approve a limited policy so deputies and other officers would be eligible for premium pay for DUI-grant assignments. "Our goal is to pay time and a half for any work that's done during this DUI grant regardless when it occurs," the speaker said, asking the personnel committee to establish the policy so time sheets and participation would be simpler.

The speaker told the committee the grant covers the additional pay and that there is no county match: "It's cost no money. Ain't no hidden fees, fine print," the speaker said. The representative said the program typically runs from October for one year and is renewed annually. Committee members moved to adopt the policy; a motion to adopt was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Committee members discussed operational details such as whether the policy would require officers to work a fixed weekly hour threshold to receive premium pay. The sheriff’s office representative said the policy would apply to work under the DUI grant and that program rules would govern deployment and eligibility.

The action establishes the personnel policy to accept the grant’s premium-pay provisions; the county will adopt the policy as described, and funding for the premium pay will come from the state grant if it is renewed.

The committee did not adopt a separate local appropriation for the pay; the policy was adopted contingent on continued grant funding.