SB 479

This bill establishes a pay progression plan for assistant state public defenders.

Under the bill, the pay progression plan consists of 17 hourly salary steps, with each

step equal to one-seventeenth of the difference between the lowest hourly salary and

the highest hourly salary for the salary range for assistant state public defenders

contained in the compensation plan. The pay progression plan shall be based

entirely on merit.

Under the bill, beginning with the first pay period that occurs on or after July

1, 2013, all assistant state public defenders who have served with the state as

assistant state public defenders for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and

who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, must be paid an hourly salary at the step

that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30, 2013. All other assistant

state public defenders, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, must be paid an

hourly salary at the step that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30,

2013, when they have served with the state as assistant state public defenders for

a continuous period of 12 months.

In addition, under the bill, beginning with the first pay period that occurs on

or after July 1, 2014, and with the first pay period that occurs on or after each

succeeding July 1, all assistant state public defenders who have served with the state

as assistant state public defenders for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and

who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of the state public

defender, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above their hourly

salary on the immediately preceding June 30. All other assistant state public

defenders, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of the

state public defender, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above

their hourly salary on the immediately preceding June 30, when they have served

with the state as assistant state public defenders for a continuous period of 12

months. The bill provides, however, that no salary increase for an assistant state

public defender may exceed 10 percent of his or her base pay during a fiscal year.