Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 082346

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 082346

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-1057-08

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: RETROACTIVE MERIT INCREASE TO MILITARY EMPLOYEES

Introduced: 8/12/2008

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 10/7/2008

Agenda Date: 10/7/2008

Agenda Item Number: 11A2

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION REQUIRING THE PAYMENT OF MERIT RAISES TO EMPLOYEES ON MILITARY LEAVE, RETROACTIVE TO 1994

Indexes:	EMPLOYEES
	MILITARY

Sponsors:	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
	Carlos A. Gimenez, Co-Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Joe A. Martinez, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	10/7/2008	11A2	Adopted				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Edmonson questioned the fiscal impact and the funding source of this proposed resolution. Ms. Angela Maher, Director, Human Resources Department, noted the fiscal impact would be approximately $250,000 and that this proposed resolution would apply to 30 employees. Special Assistant to the County Manager Jennifer Glazer-Moon explained the funding source would be the different County departments where the 30 employees worked. She pointed out the County Budget may need to be amended to provide the departments the funds they needed to execute this proposed resolution. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Commission proceeded to vote.

Budget and Finance Committee	9/9/2008	2B	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Jess McCarty read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Diaz explained that County employees were not paid while they were on military leave, which impacted their merit increases. In response to Chairman Martinez’s inquiry regarding the selection of 1994 as the date of retroactivity, Commissioner Diaz noted 1994 was the year federal law regarding this issue changed. Commissioner Sosa asked Special Assistant to the County Manager Jennifer Glazer-Moon to prepare a fiscal impact analysis and forward it for the Board’s consideration along with this proposed resolution. She also asked that the analysis address how employees’ pension and retirement benefits were impacted when they were deployed on military duty. Special Assistant to the County Manager Jennifer Glazer-Moon pointed out the County Commission approved a resolution with the same intent in 1999, and the impact of this proposed resolution would be from 1994 to 1999. Commissioner Gimenez asked that he be listed as a co-sponsor. He noted an employee should not miss merit increases for serving the Country. Following discussion regarding how the County awarded merit increases, Commissioner Sosa questioned why the County had limited the ability of employees on military leave to receive merit increases. Special Assistant Glazer-Moon explained military leave was similar to a leave of absence from County employment, which would change the anniversary date of an employee’s merit increase, and the employee would not receive the merit increase at the same time as originally scheduled. Discussion ensued among Committee members, Special Assistant Glazer-Moon, and Assistant County Attorney Lee Kraftchick regarding the impact of military leave on retirement for County employees. Commissioner Gimenez asked Assistant County Attorney Lee Kraftchick to provide each member of the Committee with a report regarding the impact of military leave on a County employee’s retirement date with the Florida Retirement System (FRS), seniority status, and consideration for promotions before this proposed resolution came before the County Commission. Chairman Martinez asked that he be listed as a co-sponsor. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote.

County Attorney	8/12/2008		Assigned	Lee Kraftchick

County Attorney	8/12/2008		Referred	Budget and Finance Committee	9/9/2008

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION REQUIRING THE PAYMENT OF MERIT RAISES TO EMPLOYEES ON MILITARY LEAVE, RETROACTIVE TO 1994

BODY
WHEREAS, this Board has been advised that in the past, County employees did not receive credit toward merit increases while on military leave; and
WHEREAS, this Board wishes to ensure that all County employees can fulfill their military duties without foregoing scheduled merit increases; and
WHEREAS, in Resolution No. 1307-99, this Board directed the County Manager to negotiate with the County�s unions to ensure that County employees received credit toward merit raises for military service prospectively; and
WHEREAS, the Board now wishes to make its policy of giving credit toward military service retroactive as well,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the County Mayor and Manager are hereby directed to pay County employees on military leave for all merit increases that they may have been due but did not receive while on such leave between January 1, 1994 and the present.