State Agencies Bulletin No. 920

Subject
PEF Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program
Date Issued
August 18, 2009

Purpose

To inform agencies of the new Additional Pay earnings codes and to provide instructions to pay the Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program payment.

Affected Employees

PS&T Unit employees with Peace Officer status under Section 2.10 of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law who meet the eligibility as described below

Background

Pursuant to a side letter to the 2007-2011 Agreement between the State of New York and PEF, a pilot incentive program has been established for certain employees who complete required agency directed training programs designed to promote firearm proficiency and safety.

Effective Date(s)

Immediately

Contract Provisions and Eligibility Criteria

The PEF 2007-2011 contract includes a GOER side letter stating that certain employees with Peace Officer status who successfully complete agency-directed firearms proficiency and safety training programs as set by the Joint Committee on Health and Safety are eligible for a pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program payment. This pilot program shall run concurrently with State fiscal years. The first year for which the incentive payment is available is State fiscal year 2008-09.

  • Incentive payment amount for training in State fiscal year 2008-09 $150

To be eligible for the payment, employees must have met the following criteria as of March 31, 2009, the last day of the fiscal year:

  • PS&T bargaining unit member with Peace Officer status under Section 2.10 of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law;
  • Assigned to carry a firearm; and
  • Successfully completed all required firearms safety and/or proficiency training during State fiscal year 2008-09.

Part-time employees who meet the eligibility are entitled to the full payment.

The Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program payment is pensionable and included in the calculation of overtime.

OSC Actions

OSC has created a new Additional Pay earnings code to be used to pay the Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program payment to eligible employees:

PFR PEF Firearm Differential

OSC will automatically calculate retroactive payments resulting from this payment.

Agency Actions

When processing the FY 2008-09 payment for employees who met the eligibility criteria as of March 31, 2009, agencies must use the following procedure to report the Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program payment on the Additional Pay page:

Earnings Code: PFR
Effective Date: 4/1/09
OT EFF Date 4/1/09
Annual Additional Earnings: $150
End Date 3/31/10
Goal Balance Leave Blank (will be filled in by the system when paid)

Deduction Information

All general deductions for employees whose status is Terminated, Retired or Deceased will be automatically cancelled by OSC with the exception of the following:

Code Narrative
233 PEF Member
247 PEF Non-Member A/S
410 Health Care Spending Account
420 NY Dependent Care Contribution
425 Repay State Loans/Debt
426 Higher Ed Repay State Loan
428 Dependent Care
433 Total Unemployment Ins Owed
500 Medicare Deficiency
501 Social Security Deficiency
GARNSH Garnishments
HIATRG Regular After Tax Health
HIATSP Special After Tax Health Adj
HIBTRG Regular Before Tax Health
HIBTSP Special Before Tax Health Adj

Tax Withholding Information

The PEF Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program payment is taxable income, will be included in the employee’s taxable gross wages and is subject to all employment and income taxes.

Undeliverable Checks

Inactive employees may be eligible for a payment as a result of the adjustments. If the agency has made an effort to deliver the check to the employee but the check has been returned and is undeliverable, the agency should forward the check to the NYS Department of Tax and Finance, Division of Treasury, per instructions in Payroll Bulletin No. 908.

Checks issued to eligible employees who are now deceased should be returned with a completed Next of Kin Affidavit (Form AC 934-P) and a Report of Check Exchange (Form AC 1476-P).

For recipients of a previously deceased employee's payroll checks where a Next of Kin Affidavit and Report of Check Exchange forms have been submitted, OSC will accept a photocopy of these forms to process the exchange of the check.

Questions

Questions about payment processing may be directed to the Payroll Audit mailbox.