Committee approves bill giving legislative staff a floating holiday instead of election-day holiday

Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Sen. Derek Harvey, was advanced by the Legislative Administration Committee after testimony from the legislative branch’s HR director and questions from committee members. The bill would eliminate the state general election day holiday for legislative employees and instead grant legislative staff an annual floating holiday.

Sen. Harvey said the change was proposed to bring parity with the executive branch and to give staff flexibility during busy November periods ahead of session. "This is an act eliminating the state general election day as a holiday for our legislative employees and in turn, provides them with an annual floating holiday for our legislative staff," Harvey said in opening remarks.

Kelly D'Silva, HR director for the legislative branch, served as the informational witness and explained how a floating holiday would work. She told the committee the floating holiday "cannot accrue comp time or overtime, unlike holiday where they could get if they worked on the holiday," and that employees must use the floating holiday within the year or lose it. D'Silva said the change was sought after the executive branch adopted the same approach and legislative staff requested parity.

Committee members asked whether employees would still have an opportunity to vote. D'Silva said the legislative branch uses a flexible schedule and employees may arrange to vote with supervisor notice. Senators also asked about the effect on pay: D'Silva reiterated the floating holiday does not create overtime or comp accrual and must be used within the year.

In executive action the committee moved and passed SB 87 by voice vote; proxy votes were recorded. Senator Harvey closed by urging the committee to grant staff flexibility.

The committee advanced the bill; the record shows it was approved in committee and will proceed to the next step of the legislative process.