2020 Legislative Agenda

Compensation and Benefits

Create a market-based pay plan for all state employees
Implement a merit-based performance pay plan
Base the state minimum salary upon a four-person household in regard to Federal poverty guidelines
Modify the employee flexible benefit allowance to be based upon an average of certain monthly premiums
Allow agencies to voluntarily buy back certain amounts of employees’ annual leave
Establish minimum compensation for employees while performing “on-call” duties
Increase the minimum hourly pay rate for state employees to $15 per hour
Require overtime payment rather than “comp time” for employees under certain salaries
Add siblings to the list of relatives that employees can request time off for caregiving duties in relation to the statewide shared leave pool
Increase the state match into the SoonerSave program
Increase longevity pay for long-term employees
Develop new forms of administrative leave focused on employees’ physical wellness and volunteer work

Modernize the merit system to improve efficiency while maintaining essential protections for state employees
Implement an ongoing task force to find improvements for the Merit Protection system

Provide a minimum of a four percent Cost of Living Adjustment to current retirees
Set market-based triggers to automatically implement Cost of Living Adjustments
Create a Defined Benefit option within OPERS for newly hired employees
Appoint an OPEA member to the OPERS Board of Trustees

Modify the function of the Trip Optimizer program and set the mileage reimbursement rate to be equal to that of the federal mileage rate
Eliminate the ability of the Tax Commission to terminate state employees for owing back taxes
Eliminating the requirement that severance benefits be reimbursed by a former state employee who has an offer to return to state employment.