State Agencies Bulletin No. 1725

Subject
2018-2019 Uniform Maintenance Allowance for Employees in the Fire Protection Specialist Title Series Represented by the Public Employees Federation (PEF)
Date Issued
March 12, 2019

Purpose

To provide the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services instructions for processing the 2018-2019 PEF Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) Uniform Maintenance Allowance

Affected Employees

Employees in the Fire Protection Specialist title series at OFPC in the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services who meet the eligibility criteria

Background

The OFPC Uniform Allowance Side Letter contained in the 2017-2019 Agreement between the State of New York and the Public Employees Federation provides for a Uniform Maintenance Allowance.

Effective Date(s)

The 2018-2019 PEF OFPC Uniform Maintenance Allowance may be submitted beginning in Administration Pay Period 1L, paychecks dated 05/01/2019.

Eligibility Criteria

Employees in Bargaining Unit 05 on 04/01/2019 are eligible to receive the 2019 PEF OFPC Uniform Maintenance Allowance provided the employee:

  • Has a Payroll Status of Active, Leave With Pay or Leave of Absence with an Action/Reason code of Leave of Absence/MLS (Mil Stip); and
  • Has a Pay Basis Code of ANN or BIW (only if the employee has a Payroll Status of Leave With Pay with an Action/Reason code of Paid Leave of Absence/MLS); and
  • Works full-time in a Fire Protection Specialist title and is required to wear a uniform; and
  • Does not receive a regular uniform service.

An employee who otherwise meets the eligibility criteria but is on an authorized leave of absence with a Payroll Status of Leave of Absence (except with an Action/Reason code of Leave of Absence/MLS) and who returns to the payroll prior to 09/30/2019, may receive the 2018-2019 payment upon the return from leave.

Agency Actions

To pay eligible employees the PEF OFPC Uniform Maintenance Allowance of $88.00 (full-time employees) or $68.00 (part-time employees), agencies must submit the following information on the Time Entry page or the Time Entry Interface (NPAY502) using Earnings Code UAP:

2018-2019 PEF OFPC Uniform Maintenance Allowance

Earnings Begin Date: 04/01/2018 or the date the employee returned to the payroll
Earnings End Date: Same as Earnings Begin Date
Earn Code: UAP
Amount: $88.00 – full-time employees
$68.00 – part-time employees

Miscellaneous Payment Information

The 2018-2019 PEF OFPC Uniform Maintenance Allowance is not pensionable and is not included in the calculation of overtime.

Tax Information

The 2018-2019 PEF OFPC Uniform Maintenance Allowance is supplemental taxable wages, 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 (1.61135% for Yonkers residents and 0.50% for Yonkers non-residents).

Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck/Advice

The Earnings Code UAP and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The Earnings Description Uniform Allowance – BU05 OFPC and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.

Questions

Questions regarding eligibility for this payment may be directed to the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.

Question regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.

Questions regarding taxes may be directed to the Tax and Compliance mailbox.