Senate deletes unfunded 64-hour mandate, inserts safeguards for reduced hours and lump-sum payments

Senator Jude Hauschneider told the chamber that the Senate deleted the House provision mandating a 64-hour pay period because the necessary funding was not identified in Schedule A. Instead, the Senate inserted a new section to address 'reduction of hours' that preserves accrual of benefits for employees if austerity measures require reduced hours. The Senate also deleted a furlough provision in favor of a 'lump sum payment' restriction to limit payouts for annual leave upon separation.

House Schedule A had been described as funding only about 38 hours per pay period; the chair said the Senate’s deletions and new language aim to avoid imposing unfunded mandates on agencies. The Senate also increased Schedule A hours in some places and inserted Notices of Program (NOPs) for departments previously omitted from the schedule. These payroll- and leave-related changes were adopted as part of the SD1 package.