Purpose:
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the Division of State Police of OSC’s automatic processing of the 2024 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay.
Affected Employees:
All 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:
The 2024 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay is effective on 11/01/2024, end dated on 10/31/2025 and will be processed in the Administration Pay Period 17L check dated 12/04/2024.
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 11/01/2024 are eligible for Hazardous Duty Pay.
Employees who otherwise meet the eligibility criteria but are 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 return to the payroll by 10/31/2025, may receive the payment upon return from leave.
OSC Actions:
OSC will automatically insert a row on the Additional Pay page using the applicable Effective Date from the Effective Date section to reflect the 2024 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay for employees who meet the eligibility criteria as follows:
| Earnings Code: | HZS |
|---|---|
| Effective Date: | 11/01/2024 |
| OT Eff Date: | 11/01/2024 |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | $4,734 |
| End Date: | 10/31/2025 |
Control-D Reports Available After Processing:
After the automatic processing of 2024 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 2024 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay effective 11/01/2024.
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). The 2024 State Police 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 with an effective date after receiving 2024 State Police Hazardous Duty Pay, the payment cannot be included in the 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:
The 2024 Hazardous Duty Pay is included for retirement purposes for employees in BU07 and BU17.
Tax Information:
The 2024 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.
Undeliverable Checks:
When a valid payroll check is undeliverable due to the agency’s inability to locate the employee, the agency should follow the Agency Actions identified in Payroll Bulletin No. 1786 – Non-Negotiated and/or Undeliverable New York State Payroll Checks.
Checks issued to eligible employees who are now deceased should be submitted as a stop payment request with a reason of Exchange in PayServ. The Report of Check Exchange (AC 1476-P), Next of Kin Affidavit (AC 934-P) and original death certificate should be submitted to the Payroll Reversal and Exchange mailbox at the same time as the stop payment request. If a Next of Kin Affidavit has been previously submitted for a deceased employee’s payroll check, OSC will accept a photocopy of this form along with a new Report of Check Exchange.
Questions:
Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.