Lawmakers wary about add-on bills to governor’s state worker benefit plan

JOHN WILKERSON

Monday, March 5, 2001 | 5:02 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Several measures that help Nevada's state workers - but go beyond Gov. Kenny Guinn's pay and benefits package for the employees - got a chilly reception Monday in the Senate Finance Committee.

The five bills reviewed by the panel would improve pay, overtime, job benefits, deferred compensation and retirement options for the employees.

The proposals would add several million dollars to the $107 million cost of the Republican governor's plan to increase the workers' salaries by 4 percent a year over the next two years.

Committee staffers said the fiscal impact of the add-on measures isn't certain yet because of various amendments to the bills.

Finance Chairman Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said prospects for any bills that require funding beyond Guinn's overall $3.8 billion budget are uncertain because of concern about possible shortages in revenue needed to balance the budget.

"The likelihood is that we're going to have to cut budgets," he said. "So I'm not optimistic."

One of the add-on measures, SB11, proposes lowering the number of years from 30 to 25 that police officers and firefighters must work before retiring.

Ronald Dreher, president of the Peace Officers' Research Association of the State of Nevada, said any costs created by the measure would be offset by salary savings. The benefit to the public is a "younger and more vigorous" police force, he added.

SB81 proposes to increase forensic specialists' pay 5 percent, and restore the 5 percent hazardous-duty pay that medical personnel in Nevada prisons system lost in 1999.

Brian Linstrom, a psychologist for the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, said forensic specialists who work in prison mental health units weren't included in Guinn's proposal for 5 percent pay increases, atop the general raises, for positions the state badly needs to fill.

Linstrom said Guinn's proposal includes prison guards, but forensic specialists aren't included even though they face tough situations, such as mentally disturbed prisoners with a high rate of hepatitis. The increase would cost the state $440,000 annually.

"When I took this job, I knew there were risks," Linstrom said. "But I certainly didn't think I'd be exposed to deadly diseases."

Bob Gagnier, executive director of the State of Nevada Employees Union, pressed for Finance Committee support of three measures that he said would add about $5 million a year to Guinn's budget.

The SNEA-backed bills include SB95, allowing state employees to take additional retirement credits as payment for unused sick leave; and SB132, requiring the state to match some of the pay that employees defer by putting it directly into a retirement fund.

Gagnier also backed SB131, which would ensure prison guards are paid for showing up early for a shift. Also, any state workers would get a raise in pay for time spent on standby, from a current level of 85 cents an hour.

"Eight-five cents an hours isn't sufficient for these life-limiting activities," Gagnier said.