UPEA Blog

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 1^st Sub.

The recently released H.B. 280 2^nd 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.

2^nd 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!

UPEA is educating legislators on the sacrifices state employees have made during the COVID-19 pandemic – Employees should be recognized for their dedication in the form of a generous pay increase.  The legislature began the 2021 session by restoring last year’s 3% pay increase in the base budget.  State employees deserve more.  UPEA is lobbying to ensure that the $12.9 million savings from the Program II Sick Leave unfunded liability is returned to state employees and used to supplement the approved 3% increase. We are also asking for additional funds for targeted increases.

GUIDE/OUTLINE FOR SPEAKING WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS:

Please use your own time, resources, and equipment to contact your legislator.

1. Address your legislator as Senator or Representative and use their last name.
2. Introduce yourself (give your name and where you live), let them know you are a constituent and a member of UPEA – You can identify the agency you work for if you wish.
3. Ask if your legislator has time to discuss some items regarding public employee issues – Be prepared to discuss the topic and clarify your reasons (see below).
4. Ask your legislator if they will support your position.
5. Thank them for their time.

Click here to find your state representative and senator. Just enter your home address and click on the legislator’s picture for contact info.

Remember to be respectful!

HOW TO DISCUSS THE $12.9 MILLION PROGRAM II SICK LEAVE SAVINGS:

The governor’s budget highlighted that the state would have a savings of $12.9 million from the Program II Sick Leave unfunded liability that will be placed in the General Fund this year. This savings is directly generated from a reduction in state employee benefits that saved the state money and has now created a surplus.

The savings is from a public employee benefit reduction and should be returned to state employee compensation.  The increase should be in addition to the proposed 3% Labor Market Adjustment included in H.B. 8 and approved earlier this session.

Utah public employees have proven their dedication and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to provide outstanding services to the citizens of Utah during these trying and difficult times.  Many employees have taken on new positions and workloads to provide critical services to the citizens of Utah.

Senator Milner (R-18) presented S.B. 181, Department of Government Operations, to the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee on February 16, 2021. S.B. 181 proposes a consolidation of three different state government departments. The bill combines the Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Technology Services, and the Department of Human Resource Management into one new department, the Department of Government Operations, with a total of approximately 1,300 employees. The consolidation aims at increasing effectiveness and efficiency in the work of agencies serving other government departments. Milner explained to the committee, “we are not requesting additional FTE’s. On the other side, it does not mean any reduction in force. All employees that are there will continue to be there.” Milner further clarified, “If someone voluntarily leaves, there might be a position that doesn’t need to be filled.” Any changes to positions “will not be done through a reduction in force. It would just be done through the normal course of voluntary resignations.”

UPEA Executive Director, Todd Losser, testified in front of the committee with the following statement: “UPEA has met with Governor Cox, and it’s our understanding that agency consolidation will not result in any reduction of jobs. Utah’s public employees are considered the most efficient workforce in the country. UPEA expects to work with the governor’s office and state agencies to ensure a smooth transition for public employees and to continue the gold standard we have established.”

S.B. 181 passed the committee unanimously with a favorable recommendation. The Senate then heard it on the floor on Day 31 of the 2021 Legislative Session. Senator Milner identified that the new governor is working on making state government more effective and efficient to serve Utah citizens. The proposal to merge the three government agencies into one also “aligns services to effectively and efficiently serve state employees.”

Senator Mayne told the Senate floor she supports the bill because the sponsor “assured [her] everyone will have a job and be treated fairly” through the consolidation process. S.B. 181 passed and will be placed on the calendar to be read a third time.

On Day 31 of the 2021 Legislative Session, Senator Stevenson shared the newest projected revenue numbers and estimates for the fiscal year on the Senate Floor. Projections show that the Legislature has almost $1.4 billion in extra cash to spend this year. The breakdown of that surplus from one-time and ongoing is as follows:

• $315 million increase in one-time money
  • Approximately 1/4 from the General Fund and 3/4 from the Education Fund
• $112 million increase in ongoing money
  • Approximately 1/3 from the General Fund and 2/3 from the Education Fund

However, economic uncertainty remains – While Utah is in a much better place compared to other states, job growth has not kept up. With the anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines becoming widely available by the end of May, there is reason to be cautiously optimistic. Governor Spencer Cox echoed this sentiment in a press conference held on Friday the 19^th, “There still could be some headwinds coming, but we feel really good about where Utah is right now and where we’re headed for the rest of the session.”

Senator Stevenson made note that while there is more cash on hand this Legislative Session, in relation to bills, there is $1.3 billion in new money and one-time money but there is $2 billion in requests. Ultimately, there will still be “a lot of cuts between now and the end of the session.” There was hope that there would be even more money available with federal stimulus checks helping Utahns to spend more during the pandemic, but that did not happen. Sen. Stevenson did guarantee that the budget would be balanced in the end.