UPEA had the opportunity to discuss H.B. 280, State Employee Amendments, with the bill sponsor Representative Kay Christofferson. In addition, UPEA has also met with representatives from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and Governor Cox’s staff. During these meetings, UPEA expressed its opposition to H.B. 280 and H.B. 280 1st Sub.
The recently released H.B. 280 2nd Substitute creates a task force of stakeholders to discuss state employee issues including career service, performance evaluations, merit pay, employee turnover, and employee retention. The State Career Service Review Taskforce will consist of the following individuals:
- Three members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party;
- Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party;
- The executive director of the Department of Human Resource Management, or the executive director’s designee;
- One individual representing the office of the governor, appointed by the governor;
- The state auditor, or the state auditor’s designee; and
- One individual representing the Utah Public Employees Association, appointed by the executive director of the Utah Public Employees Association.
- The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate as a co-chair of the task force.
- The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House of Representatives as a co-chair of the task force.
2nd Substitute H.B. 280 also outlines requires the task force to review the state career service system and make recommendations regarding:
- the proper classification of state employee positions that are exempt from the state career service system; and are covered by the state career service system;
- improvements to state employee compensation, including compensation based on performance incentives; and
- other modifications related to the state career service system.
The task force shall:
- convene the task force’s initial meeting on or before July 1, 2021; and
- provide a report, including any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the Government Operations Interim Committee during or before the October interim meeting in 2021.
UPEA has been invited to participate in the taskforce and intends to communicate the continued benefits that the career service system brings to the citizens and employees of the state.
We will be communicating with you to discuss the progress of this bill.
UPEA employee representatives are available for questions by phone or email. Please share this email with your coworkers and let them know that UPEA is their only voice. Please support our efforts in maintaining the career service system by joining UPEA. Join UPEA today!