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

MEMORANDUM NO. 2006-17

May 23, 2006

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

I. AUTHORITY

The interest arbitration award between the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut State Employees Association concerning the Engineering, Scientific and Technical (P-4) bargaining unit for the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2009, which was approved by the Legislature on April 25, 2006.

II. TRAINING AND TUITION REIMBURSEMENT (Article 10)

Effective July 1, 2005, the Professional Conference and Workshop fund may reimburse employees for on-line professional seminars, workshops or conferences so as long as the requests by employees are substantially similar to requests that have been approved by the Professional Conference and Workshop Committee on an attendance basis for such professional seminars, workshops or conferences.

A. The State will allocate for training each contract year the following:

The unspent funds will carry over from one contract year to the succeeding contract year(s). The fund will automatically expire on June 30, 2009.

Each eligible employee will be entitled to a maximum of $600 per year from this fund toward the cost of fees, travel, food and/or lodging related to attendance at such events. An employee may use the fund once in a two year period for an expenditure in excess of $600, but not greater than $1,200. Use of the fund for expenditures less than $600 will not entitle the employee to use the fund for an additional expenditure in excess of $600 in any two year period (no carryover credit).

Agricultural Experiment Station employees eligible for expense reimbursement under Addendum Article 10 are not eligible to participate in the Workshop Conference Fund.

B. Tuition Reimbursement (Section 3)

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

Courses from accredited institutions of higher learning will be eligible for this reimbursement inclusive of long distance learning courses. There will be unlimited carryover of unused moneys in the fund from one contract year to the next. Funds will automatically expire upon expiration of the contract.

The maximum reimbursement rate will be 75% of the per credit rate for undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Connecticut at Storrs inclusive of fees.

No employee is eligible for reimbursement for more than twelve (12) credits in each year of the contract.

III. HOURS OF WORK (Article 16)

Article 16 contains several payroll provisions. Please refer to the P-4 contract for eligibility requirements and specific details.

A. Shift Differential (Section 2)

A shift differential of sixty-five cents ($.65) per hour will be paid to all employees whose regularly assigned shift or tour of duty begins after 2:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m., except that any employee whose salary is above the pay grade designated as exempt from overtime (Article 17 Section Three), will not be eligible for such differential. Effective July 1, 2006 the shift differential will be seventy-five cents ($.75) per hour. Effective July 1, 2007 the shift differential will be eighty-five cents ($.85) per hour. Notwithstanding this provision, employees in the classifications of Computer Operations Supervisor 1 and 2 will be eligible for shift differential payment.

B. Weekend Differential (Section 3)

The weekend differential will be forty cents ($.40) per hour. Effective July 1, 2006 the weekend differential will be fifty cents ($.50) per hour. Effective July 1, 2007 the weekend differential will be sixty cents ($.60) per hour. Effective July 1, 2008 the weekend differential will be seventy-five cents ($.75) per hour.

C. Standby (Section 5)

Pay for on standby or on call status will be $16, $24, or $54. See contract for specific details.

IV. COMPENSATION (Article 19)

A. General Wage Increases (Section 1)

General wage increases will be effective as follows:

B. Annual Increments (Section 2)

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

C. Longevity (Section 3)

Employees will continue to be eligible for longevity payments for the life of this contract in accordance with existing practice.

D. Lump Sum Payment for Maximum Step Employees (Section 4)

Employees at the maximum step of the salary schedule as of the annual increment effective dates will receive a 2.5 percent lump sum payment when the annual increment would have applied. In contract year 2005-2006 there will be no lump sum payment made to employees at maximum step.

V. TRAVEL (Article 21)

Employees required to travel on official State business will be reimbursed for lodging, mileage and/or meals in accordance with Standard State Travel Regulations.

Construction personnel in the Department of Transportation (DOT) or Department of Public Works (DPW) who are presently assigned State vehicles may continue to use said vehicles or may shift to the use of his/her personal vehicle, at which time he/she will be entitled to all the benefits accruing to other employees who are using their personal vehicles.

Employees utilizing personally-owned vehicles on state business will be paid $4.50 per day vehicle use fee. This fee will be in addition to mileage reimbursement. (See contract for stipulations.)

When authorized in accordance with 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.

The mileage reimbursement rate will be the GSA rate (currently 44.5 cents per mile) subject to readjustment within thirty days, consistent with readjustment by the GSA.

VI. HEALTH AND SAFETY (Article 27)

A joint Union/Management Safety Committee will be established to investigate, discuss and develop corrective measures on specific safety and health matters. Committee proposals shall detail the problem, resolution, the benefit of implementation and costs.

There will be established an annual fund of $15,000 for committee proposed safety health programs. There will be unlimited carryover of unused funds from one contract year to the succeeding contract year(s). The fund will automatically expire upon expiration of the contract.

VII. SAFETY SHOE ALLOWANCE (Article 35)

The annual safety shoe allowance of $70 will continue to be payable on or about October 1 of each contract year. Employees hired on or after October 1, but before April 1 of any contract year will also receive this allowance on or about April 1. Employees hired on or after April 1 will not be eligible for this allowance in that contract year.

Effective July 1, 2006 the annual safety shoe allowance will be increased to eighty-five dollars ($85). Effective July 1, 2007 it will be increased to ninety-five dollars ($95). Effective July 1, 2008 the safety shoe allowance will be increased to one hundred ten dollars ($110).

VIII. CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING (Article 40)

An employee whose job specification requires a professional license or certificate as a condition of employment will be reimbursed for the cost of same.

IX. ANNUAL SKILL PREMIUM FOR EMTS (Article 41 Section 2)

Each employee who is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) shall be paid a four hundred dollar ($400) annual skill premium, payable on or about December 1 of each contract year. Effective July 1, 2008, the EMT skill premium will be four hundred seventy-five dollars ($475).

X. EMPLOYEE MEAL CHARGES (Article 55)

Rates charged to employees for meals at State agencies with employee dining facilities. will be as follows:

XI. RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS

A. Retroactive Safety Shoe Allowance

Agencies may have already paid this safety shoe allowance to appropriate employees. If this was not paid, please process payment as follows:

B. Retroactive EMT Skill Premium

Agencies may have already paid this EMT premium to appropriate employees. If this was not paid, please process payment as follows:

XII. SCHEDULED PAYMENT DATES

A. General Wage Increase

The general wage increase will be made centrally at the proper time.

B. Annual Increments

Annual increments will be entered centrally at the proper time as follows:

C. Lump Sum Payments for Maximum Step Employees

The agency must process these lump sum payments manually and follow the effective dates and pay periods of annual increments.

D. Safety Shoe Allowance

E. EMT Skill Premium

XIII. 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. Payment of Lump Sum(s)

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

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

Lump sum payments are subject to mandatory deductions; i.e., federal withholding and state income tax annualized, social security tax and retirement contributions and (if applicable) garnishments.

C. Split Pay Periods for General Wage Increases

General Wage Increase effective July 1, 2006. The effective pay period is June 23, 2006 through July 6, 2006. Wages earned for the period June 23, 2006 through June 30, 2006 should be paid at the old rate. The wages earned for the period July 1, 2006 through July 6, 2006 should be paid at the new rate, effective July 1, 2006.

General Wage Increase effective July 1, 2007. The effective pay period is June 22, 2007 through July 5, 2007. Wages earned for the period June 22, 2007 through June 30, 2007 should be paid at the old rate. The wages earned for the period July 1, 2007 through July 5, 2007 should be paid at the new rate, effective July 1, 2007.

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. The wages earned for the period July 1, 2008 through July 3, 2008 should be paid at the new rate, effective July 1, 2008.

D. Shift Differential

1. On the Weekly Elapsed Time Page: Hours; Shift 1; Account 50180 or Hours; Shift 2 (Time and a Half); Account 50180 or Amount; Shift 3; Account 50180.

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Hours or Amount; Earnings Code SD1 (Shift 1); Account 50180 or Hours or Amount; Earnings Code SD2 (Shift 2); Account 50180 or Amount; Earnings Code SD3 (Shift 3); Account 50180.

E. Standby

On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code OCA.

F. Vehicle Usage

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

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

G. Shoe Allowance

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

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

H. EMT Payment

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

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

XIV. TUITION REIMBURSEMENT

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.

Please 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 reimbursements at the beginning of contract years.

XV. GENERAL

Questions may be directed as follows:

Contract Issues: Agency Personnel Officers

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) 702-3344.

NANCY WYMAN
STATE COMPTROLLER

NW:CH

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