STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM

April 21, 2006

I. AUTHORITY

The interest arbitration award between the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut State Employees Association concerning the Education Administrators (P-3A) bargaining unit, for the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2009, which became effective on April 12, 2006.

II. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION - Article 11

Merit Evaluation - Section 5(a) and (c)

The purpose of the program is to enhance services to the State's clients and to provide concrete and attractive financial rewards for meritorious achievement. The merit evaluation will reflect valid judgements of employee performance.

The State will provide $200,000 for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, $300,000 for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, $400,000 for the 2007-2008 fiscal year and $500,000 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year for the purpose of implementing the Merit Evaluation Program. There shall be unlimited carryover of unused funds from one fiscal year to the succeeding fiscal years.

A lump sum merit pay supplement will be paid based on performance evaluation. Lump sum payments to eligible employees will be made in the last pay check preceding June 30th of each contract year. See Section V of this memorandum for payment dates.

III. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Article 17

Tuition Reimbursement - Section 5

The State will allocate for tuition and fee reimbursement each contract year the following:

There will be unlimited carryover of funds from one fiscal year to the next. An employee may be reimbursed 75% of the per credit rate inclusive of fees for undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Connecticut at Storrs. No employee is eligible for more than twelve (12) credits per fiscal year. The State shall reimburse, to a maximum of three (3) graduate credits per semester, fees associated with continuing registration for doctoral dissertations.

Unexpended tuition funds at the end of the fiscal year shall be divided among eligible bargaining unit members who have taken graduate courses during the fiscal year up to a maximum of 100% of the per credit graduate rate at the University of Connecticut.

Job sharing employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement at the same rate as full-time employees.

(new) Distance learning courses may qualify for tuition reimbursement provided that such course work is offered by an institution that is fully accredited as an undergraduate/graduate institution and would otherwise qualify under the program were the member in physical attendance.

Section 7

Fees for all licenses and/or certifications shall be waived or reimbursed to a bargaining unit employee when the licenses or certifications are required by the appointing authority as a condition of continued employment.

Dues for membership in professional organizations shall be reimbursed by the State when it is determined by management that the employee's participation in the organization's activities is essential.

Section 8

Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be allocated to BESB for the purpose of sending bargaining unit employees in BESB to the yearly regional convention of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Effective July 1, 2006, fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) in each remaining year of the contract shall be allocated to the Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) for the purpose of sending bargaining unit employees in BESB to the yearly regional convention of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

After the allocation for bargaining unit employees to attend the yearly regional convention of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the parties may by mutual agreement expend any unused monies.

IV. COMPENSATION - Article 27

A. Additional Step to Pay Plan (new)

Effective the pay period including July 1, 2006 and the July annual increments for the 2006-2007 contract year, one additional step will be added to the pay plans. This step will be 3% above the preceding step.

B. General Wage Increases - Section 1

General wage increases will be effective as follows:

C. Annual Increments - Section 2

Employees will continue to be eligible for and receive annual increments during the term of this contract in accordance with existing practice except no annual increment will paid for 2005-2006.

D. Longevity - Section 3

Employees will continue to be eligible for longevity payments for the life of the contract in accordance with existing practice. The longevity schedule in effect on June 30, 1979 shall remain unchanged in dollar amounts for the life of the Agreement.

E. Travel Reimbursements - Section 4

When authorized in accordance with the Standard State Travel regulations, any employee who is required to travel on employer business will be reimbursed at the following rates:

*Applicable to out-of-state travel or when authorized in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations issued by the Commissioner of Administrative Services.

1. Taxes on meals will be fully reimbursed.
2. Gratuities will be reimbursed to a maximum of 15% of the allowable maximum.

Mileage reimbursement will be paid at the GSA rate (currently 44.5 cents effective January 31, 2006) subject to readjustment with the U.S. GSA rate.

Employees required to utilize a personal vehicle for State business for 50% of the assigned monthly work days (which must be at least nine work days) will be paid a daily auto usage fee of $4.50 for each day of required usage, in addition to mileage reimbursement.

An employee who is required to remain away from home overnight in order to perform the regular duties of his /her position may be reimbursed for lodging expenses in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations issued by the Commissioner of Administrative Services.

F. Unit Coordinator Stipend - Section 5

Unit Coordinators shall receive an annual stipend of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200). Effective July 1, 2006, the annual Unit Coordinator stipend shall be increased to fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500).

G. Upgrade Education Supervisor (BESB) (new)

Effective the pay period including July 1, 2006, the classification of Education Supervisor (BESB) will be upgraded to Salary Group 33.

V. SCHEDULED PAYMENT DATES

A. General Wage Increase

B. Annual Increments

Annual Increments will be entered centrally for agencies at the proper time as follows:

C. Performance Evaluation Payments

D. Unit Coordinator Stipend

VI. PAYROLL PROCEDURES

A. Implementation of General Wage Increase

New pay plans will be implemented centrally with the new hourly rate and bi-weekly salary effective with the pay period, at the proper time.

B. Split Pay Periods for General Wage Increase

General Wage Increase effective July 1, 2008. The effective pay period is June 20, 2008 through July 3, 2008. Wages earned for the period June 20, 2008 through June 30, 2008 should be paid at the old rate. Wages earned for the period July 1, 2008 through July 3, 2008 should be paid at the new rate, effective July 1, 2008.

C. Payment of the Unit Coordinator Stipend and the Percentage Payout for the Performance Evaluation Program

Lump sum payments are subject to mandatory deductions; i.e., Federal withholding tax and state income tax annualized, social security tax and retirement contributions, and (if applicable) garnishments. These payments on the bi-weekly payroll will be separately identified as:

Unit Coordinator Stipend

1. On the Weekly Elapsed Time Page: Amount; Time Reporting Code XSKPA.
2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code SKP.

Merit Evaluation Payout

1. On the Weekly Elapsed Time Page: Amount; Time Reporting Code XMERA.
2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code MER.

D. Auto Usage

1. On the Weekly Elapsed Time Page: Amount; Time Reporting Code XAUTA.

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code AUT.

VII. TUITION REIMBURSEMENT - Union Funds

All pre-approved tuition reimbursement requests must be submitted to the Comptroller's Office, Fiscal Policy Division, Tuition and Travel Unit, on a PERT-1 Form, Application for Tuition Reimbursement. A receipt of payment and a copy of grades for courses taken should be attached to the PERT-1 form.

Note: Reimbursements cannot be made until the release of funding by the Office of Policy and Management. In the past, this funding was not made available to coincide with the implementation date of the contract provision. Please expect delays in reimbursement at the beginning of contract years.

VIII. GENERAL

Payroll staff should check with their Agency Personnel Officer to ascertain other possible wage increases. The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will be distributing revised salary schedules.

Please share this information with affected satellite divisions of your Department.

Questions may be directed as follows:

Contract Interpretation: Agency Personnel Officer

Payroll Procedures: Office of the State Comptroller, Payroll Services Division, (860) 702-3463;

Memorandum Interpretation: Office of the State Comptroller, Fiscal Policy Division, (860) 702-3440;

Tuition Reimbursement: Office of the State Comptroller, Fiscal Policy Division, (860) 702-3334.

NANCY WYMAN
STATE COMPTROLLER

NW:CH

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