SF 780

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/04/2019 02:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing requirements to set salaries for Minnesota
State Patrol troopers; requiring the state auditor to conduct an annual compensation
survey; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 299D.03, subdivision 2, by
adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 299D.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Salary and reimbursement.

(a) Each employee other than the chief supervisor,
lieutenant colonel, majors, captains, corporals, and sergeants hereinafter designated shall
be known as patrol troopers.

(b) There may be appointed one lieutenant colonel; and such majors, captains, corporals,
sergeants, and troopers as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the duties and
functions of the State Patrol. Persons in above-named positions shall be appointed by law
and have such duties as the commissioner may direct and, except for troopers, shall be
selected from the patrol troopers, corporals, sergeants, captains, and majors who shall have
had at least five years' experience as either patrol troopers, corporals, sergeants, or
supervisors.

(c) The salary rates for all State Patrol troopers, corporals, and sergeants shall be deemed
to include $6 per day reimbursement for shift differential, meal and business expenses
incurred by State Patrol troopers, corporals, and sergeants in the performance of their
assigned duties in their patrol areas; business expenses include, but are not limited to:
uniform costs, home garaging of squad cars, and maintenance of home office.

new text begin (d) The minimum monthly salary paid to members of the State Patrol must be:
new text end

new text begin (1) for fiscal year 2021, 90 percent of the average compensation paid to the seven highest
paid police departments in the state for employees having the same years of service;
new text end

new text begin (2) for fiscal year 2022, 92.5 percent of the average compensation paid to the seven
highest paid police departments in the state for employees having the same years of service;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) for fiscal year 2023 and each year thereafter, 95 percent of the average compensation
paid to the seven highest paid police departments in the state for employees having the same
years of service.
new text end

new text begin The average salary must be based on the salary survey conducted pursuant to subdivision
2a. In negotiating wages with an exclusive representative for members of the State Patrol,
the employer's pattern of wage settlements with other state bargaining units must not be the
primary consideration.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 299D.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Salary survey. new text end

new text begin (a) By January 1 of each year, the state auditor must conduct
a compensation survey of every police department and law enforcement agency in the state.
The survey must report on the previous fiscal year. The state auditor must calculate
compensation using base salary, premium pay (payment received by more than a majority
of employees), education pay, and longevity pay. The state auditor must not include pension
contributions and benefits when determining compensation. The survey must include an
analysis of the efficacy of State Patrol recruitment and retention efforts, including an analysis
of voluntary resignations of State Patrol troopers, corporals, and sergeants, and a comparison
of State Patrol academy class sizes and trooper graduations. The survey must identify the
seven highest paid police departments in the state and the average compensation of the
seven departments.
new text end

new text begin (b) By January 15 of each year, the state auditor must transmit a copy of the survey to
the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees with jurisdiction over the State Patrol budget and, upon request, to the exclusive
representative for members of the State Patrol.
new text end