Purpose
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide the Division of State Police instructions for processing the new bi-weekly 8 Year Seniority Payments.
Affected Employees
Employees of the Division of State Police in the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Police Investigators Association NYSPIA – BU62 who meet the eligibility criteria are affected.
Background
Chapter 337 of the Laws of 2019 implements the 2018-2023 Agreement between New York State and NYSPIA, provides for a new bi-weekly 8 Year Seniority Payment effective April 1, 2020 for Investigators and Senior Investigators in Bargaining Unit 62.
Effective Date(s)
Agencies may begin submitting payments in Administration Pay Period 1L/2C; paychecks dated 04/29/2020.
Eligibility Criteria
Employees in Bargaining Unit 62 who have a Payroll Status of Active, Leave With Pay, or Leave of Absence with an Action/Reason code of Leave of Absence/MLS (Mil Stip), Leave of Absence/MTS (Military Training Stipend), or Leave of Absence/MLL (Mil lv) 04/01/2020 (Administration) are eligible for the bi-weekly 8 Year Seniority Payment.
OSC Actions
The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) has created the following new Additional Pay code to pay the new bi-weekly 8 Year Seniority Payment:
Bargaining Unit 62
| New Additional Pay Code | Description | Amount |
| S08 | Seniority Pay 8 Year | $1,200 |
Agency Actions
To pay the new State Police bi-weekly, 8 Year Seniority Payment to eligible employees in BU62, the agency must submit the following information on the Additional Pay page using Earnings Code S08 – Seniority Pay 8 Year:
| Earnings Code: | S08 |
| Effective Date: | Date Employee Becomes Eligible |
| OT Eff Date: | Same as Effective Date |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | $1,200 |
| Earnings End Date: | Leave Blank |
| Goal Balance | Leave Blank |
The new State Police bi-weekly, 8 Year Seniority Payment is included in the calculation of overtime compensation (refer to the Online Payroll Manual accessed from the PayServ Bulletin Board – Payroll Manual > Earnings Manual > Time Entry Payments > Overtime Compensation).
If an employee is appointed to an ineligible position effective after receiving the new State Police bi-weekly 8 Year Seniority Payment, the payment cannot be included in the compensation calculation of any overtime earned after the date of appointment. Therefore, the agency must insert a row on the Additional Pay page at the Effective Date level of Earnings Code S08 and enter the following information:
| Effective Date: | Last date in eligible position (date prior to appointment) |
| OT Eff Date: | Same as original OT Eff Date |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | Same as original amount (populates automatically) |
| End Date: | Same as Effective Date |
| Goal Balance: | Same as Annual Addl Earnings (to prevent making another payment) |
Tax information
The new State Police bi-weekly, 8 Year Seniority Payment is taxable income, will be included in the employee’s taxable gross, and is subject to all employment and income taxes.
Retirement Information
The new State Police bi-weekly, 8 Year Seniority Payment is included as salary for retirement purposes.
Questions
Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.