SB185 SUB1

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 185

(By Senators Laird, Nohe and Foster)

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[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization;

reported February 10, 2012.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact §5A-1A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the Employee Suggestion Award Program; increasing the maximum cash award; requiring the board to report to the Legislature every five years; and allowing the Governor to make a secondary award.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §5A-1A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1A. EMPLOYEE SUGGESTION AWARD PROGRAM.

§5A-1A-4. Awards.

    (a) The maximum cash award approved shall be is limited to twenty percent of the first year's estimated savings, as established by the head of the affected spending unit, or ten thousand dollars $16,000 whichever is less. Any A cash awards award approved by the board shall be charged by the head of the affected spending unit against the appropriation item or items to which such the estimated savings apply.

    (b) Commencing December 2015, and every five years thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, including:

    (1) Recommendations for the maximum award amount adjusted for inflation; and

    (2) Any other information concerning the maximum award amount.

    (c) After the board has made an award, the Governor may make one secondary award of up to twenty percent of the additional savings realized by implementing the suggestion in other state agencies, not to exceed $5,000. The Governor shall pay the secondary awards from funds appropriated by the Legislature for secondary awards.