State Police Bulletin No. SP-238

Subject
2023 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay
Date Issued
November 3, 2023

Purpose:

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the Division of State Police of OSC’s automatic processing of the 2023 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay.

Affected Employees:

Employees of the Division of State Police in the State Police Troopers Unit – BU07 and the State Police Commissioned/Non-commissioned Officers Unit (CO/NCO) – BU17 who meet the eligibility criteria are affected.

Background:

Chapter 24 of the Laws of 2019, which implemented the 2018-2023 Agreements between the State of New York and the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers (PBA), provides for an annual hazardous duty payment.

These payments, including those for newly eligible employees, will continue even if there is no successor agreement.

Effective Dates:

2023 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay will be processed in Administration Pay Period 17L, paychecks dated 12/06/2023.

Eligibility Criteria:

Employees in Bargaining Unit 07 or Bargaining Unit 17 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) on 11/01/2023 are eligible for Hazardous Duty Pay.

An employee who otherwise meets the eligibility criteria but is on an authorized leave of absence with a Payroll Status of Leave of Absence (except an Action/Reason code of Leave of Absence/MLS, Leave of Absence/MTS, and Leave of Absence/MLL), and who returns to the payroll by 10/31/2024, may receive the payment upon return from leave.

OSC Actions:

OSC will automatically insert a row on the Additional Pay page for employees who meet the eligibility criteria on 11/01/2023 as follows:

Earnings Code: HZS
Effective Date: 11/01/2023
OT Eff Date: 11/01/2023
Annual Addl Earnings: $4,734
End Date: 10/31/2024

Control-D Reports Available After Processing:

After the automatic processing of 2023 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay is completed, the following Control-D report will be available for agency use:

NPAY770 – One Time Payment Report

This report identifies all employees who receive 2023 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay effective 11/01/2023.

Overtime Calculation Information:

Hazardous Duty Pay is included in the calculation of overtime compensation (refer to the Online Payroll Manual accessed from the PayServ Bulletin Board – Payroll Manuals > Earnings Manual > Time Entry Payments > Overtime Compensation). 2023 Hazardous Duty Pay will be included in the calculation of overtime earned from the OT Eff Date through the End Date on the employee’s Additional Pay page for Earnings code HZS.

If an employee is appointed to an ineligible position effective after receiving 2023 Hazardous Duty Pay, the payment cannot be included in the compensation calculation of any overtime earned after the date of the appointment. Therefore, the agency must insert a row on the Additional Pay page at the Effective Date level of Earnings Code HZS 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)

Retirement Information:

Hazardous Duty Pay is pensionable.

Tax Information:

The 2023 State Police Hazardous Duty payment is supplemental taxable income, will be included in the employee’s taxable gross and is subject to all employment and income taxes.

Federal, State, and New York City income tax withholding will be calculated using the Aggregate method. Yonkers income tax withholding will be calculated using the Flat Rate method. Yonkers Flat Rate Withholding is 1.95975% for Yonkers residents and 0.50% for Yonkers non-residents.

Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck/Advice:

Earnings Code HZS and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. Earnings Description Hazardous Duty SP BU07 & 17 and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.

Questions:

Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.