Signed by Governor Steve Bullock

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that appropriates funds for state employee pay raises, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Requires the executive branch of the State of Montana to increase the base pay for each state employee (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates the following funds to state agencies to implement an increase in base pay for state employees (Sec. 4):
• $32.97 million in fiscal year 2014; and
• $80.72 million in fiscal year 2015.

• Specifies that the funds used to increase base pay for each state employee are to be appropriated from the group benefits cost to the state government for the biennium between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2015 (Secs. 2-4).

• Requires the executive branch to pay “particular attention” when increasing the base pay for state employees to lower pay bands and to individuals who did not receive a base pay increase during the biennium between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2013 (Sec. 2).

• Increases the estimated amount each agency and the state compensation insurance fund contribute per month towards the group benefits cost for each state employee and for members of the legislature to the following amounts (Sec. 3):
• From $626 to $733 between January 2011 through December 2013;
• From $679 to $806 between January 2014 through December 2014; and
• From $733 to $887 from January 2015 onward.

• Increases the estimated amount each agency and the state compensation insurance fund contribute per month towards the group benefits cost for each Montana university system employee to the following amounts (Sec. 3):
• From $626 to $806 between July 2013 through June 2014; and
• From $679 to $887 beginning July 2014 onward.

• Requires the Department of Administration to base its future state employee compensation plans on the analysis and comparison of the municipal and state government labor markets, compensation, and salaries in North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho and Wyoming for the biennium between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2015 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates funds for state employee pay raises, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Requires the executive branch of the State of Montana to increase the base pay for each state employee (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates the following funds to state agencies to implement an increase in base pay for state employees (Sec. 4):
• $32.97 million in fiscal year 2014; and
• $80.72 million in fiscal year 2015.

• Specifies that the funds used to increase base pay for each state employee are to be appropriated from the group benefits cost to the state government for the biennium between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2015 (Secs. 2-4).

• Requires the executive branch to pay “particular attention” when increasing the base pay for state employees to lower pay bands and to individuals who did not receive a base pay increase during the biennium between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2013 (Sec. 2).

• Increases the estimated amount each agency and the state compensation insurance fund contribute per month towards the group benefits cost for each state employee and for members of the legislature to the following amounts (Sec. 3):
• From $626 to $733 between January 2011 through December 2013;
• From $679 to $806 between January 2014 through December 2014; and
• From $733 to $887 from January 2015 onward.

• Increases the estimated amount each agency and the state compensation insurance fund contribute per month towards the group benefits cost for each Montana university system employee to the following amounts (Sec. 3):
• From $626 to $806 between July 2013 through June 2014; and
• From $679 to $887 beginning July 2014 onward.

• Requires the Department of Administration to base its future state employee compensation plans on the analysis and comparison of the municipal and state government labor markets, compensation, and salaries in North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho and Wyoming for the biennium between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2015 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text