2024 -- S 2687

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LC005143

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- COURT CLERKS'

INCENTIVE PAY

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, DiPalma, Britto, Zurier, Burke, and Tikoian

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 8-4.1-1, 8-4.1-2 and 8-4.1-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-4.1

entitled "Court Clerks’ Incentive Pay" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     8-4.1-1. Incentive pay plan.

     There is hereby established an incentive pay program in accordance with the provisions of

this chapter offering financial compensation to clerks of the supreme, superior, family, and district

courts and administrators of the workers’ compensation court for furthering their education in the

field of court administration or law enforcement. This incentive program shall apply to all clerks

who hold this position on July 5, 1994, and shall not apply to any person hired as a clerk after July

5, 1994 meet the eligibility requirements set forth in §8-4.1-2.

     8-4.1-2. Eligibility for plan.

     (a) Any full time clerk of the supreme, superior, family, or district court or administrators

of the workers’ compensation court covered by a collective bargaining agreement in existence on

July 5, 1994 and providing for the incentive pay plan under this chapter shall be eligible for the

plan established by this chapter provided he or she:

     (1) Has, on or before July 5, 1994, acquired the requisite degree as set forth in § 8-4.1-3;

or

     (2) Has, on or before July 5, 1994, accumulated at least fifty percent (50%) of the credits

necessary to receive either degree as set forth in § 8-4.1-3 and thereafter receives that degree; or

     (3) Is, on July 5, 1994, enrolled in a degree program, completion of which will entitle him

or her to either degree as set forth in § 8-4.1-3, and thereafter receives that degree.

     (b) The clerk, within thirty (30) days after July 5, 1994, must submit to the court

administrator a certified copy of a transcript from a college or university as evidence of such credits.

Provided, however, notwithstanding any general or public law to the contrary, incentive payments

shall not be continued to any person in the future when the person no longer holds a clerk position

as set forth in this section. Additionally, no clerk hired after July 5, 1994, shall be eligible to receive

incentive payments under the provisions of this chapter.

     8-4.1-7. Effective date.

     Sections 8-4.1-1 — 8-4.1-3 8-4.1-6 shall not take effect for any existing court clerks or

administrators presently receiving an incentive pay under this chapter until the expiration of any

collective bargaining agreement in existence on July 5, 1994 upon passage. However, upon the

expiration of the collective bargaining agreement which is in effect at the time of July 5, 1994, §§

8-4.1-1 — 8-4.1-3 shall apply to all existing clerks receiving an incentive under this chapter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- COURT CLERKS'

INCENTIVE PAY

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     This act would extend the incentive pay plan to all full-time court clerks who meet the

eligibility requirements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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