2025 -- S 0957

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LC002648

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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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, Bissaillon, Dimitri, LaMountain, McKenney,
and Burke

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Labor & Gaming

     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, and the traffic tribunal 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, and the traffic tribunal 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: the person acquires

     (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 Section 8-4.1-1 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. Section 8-4.1-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-4.1 entitled "Court Clerks’

Incentive Pay" is hereby repealed.

     8-4.1-6. Additional credit for masters degree.

     Any other provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, every full time clerk

of the supreme, superior, family, or district court who earns the degree of master in public

administration shall be paid, in addition to basic salary and any other credit to which he or she is

entitled hereunder, the additional sum of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) each year.

     SECTION 3. 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, including the

traffic tribunal, who meet the eligibility requirements. It would also repeal § 8-4.1-6 regarding

additional credit for a master's degree.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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