Purpose
To provide agencies with instructions for processing the 2018-2019 Pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program Payment
Affected Employees
Employees in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Unit – BU05 who meet the eligibility criteria
Background
Pursuant to a side letter contained in the 2016-2019 Agreement between the State of New York and the Public Employees Federation (PEF), employees with peace officer status shall be eligible to receive an incentive payment in return for participating in an agency-directed training program designed to promote firearms proficiency and safety. This program shall be developed and implemented by the Joint Health and Safety Committee and shall run concurrently with State fiscal years.
A memo dated June 28, 2019 from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) authorized the 2018-2019 payment.
Effective Date(s)
The 2018-2019 Public Employees Federation (PEF) Pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program Payment can be submitted beginning in Pay Period 8L, paychecks dated 08/01/2019 for Institution and Pay Period 8L, paychecks dated 08/07/2019 for Administration.
Eligibility Criteria
Employees who meet the following criteria as of 03/31/2019 are eligible to receive the 2018-2019 Pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program Payment:
- A member of the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Unit with peace officer status under Section 2.10 of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law; and
- Assigned to carry a firearm; and
- Successfully completed all agency-directed firearms safety and proficiency training during fiscal year 2018-2019
Eligible employees who are part-time are entitled to the full payment amount.
Agency Action
To pay the 2018-2019 Pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program Payment to eligible employees, agencies must submit the following information on the Additional Pay page using Earnings Code PFR:
| Earnings Code: | PFR |
| Effective Date: | 04/01/2019 |
| OT Eff Date: | 04/01/2019 |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | $260 |
| End Date: | 03/31/2020 or the last date the employee was in a position eligible to receive PFR prior to 03/31/2020 |
| Goal Balance: | Leave blank |
Overtime Calculation and Retirement Information
The Pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program Payment is included as salary for retirement purposes and must be included in the calculation of overtime compensation. The 2018-2019 Pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program Payment will be included in the calculation of overtime earned from the OT EFF Date through the End Date on the employee’s Additional Pay page for Earnings Code PFR.
If an employee is appointed to a position which is not eligible to receive the 2018-2019 Pilot Firearms Training and Safety Incentive Program Payment, the payment cannot be included in the compensation calculation of any overtime earned after the date of appointment. Therefore, the agency must insert a row on the Additional Pay page at the Effective Date level of Earnings Code PFR and enter the following information:
| Effective Date: | Last date in eligible position (date prior to appointment) |
| OT Eff Date: | Same as original OT Eff Date |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | Same as original amount (populates automatically) |
| End Date: | Same as Effective Date |
| Goal Balance: | Same as Annual Addl Earnings (to prevent making another payment) |
Tax Information
The PFR payment 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 PFR and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The Earnings Description PEF Firearm Differential and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.
Questions
Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.