New Hampshire Senate Bill SB226

New Hampshire 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/14/21
• Refer: 12/14/21
• Report Pass: 1/26/22
• Refer: 3/16/22
• Engrossed: 4/1/22
• Refer: 4/1/22
• Report Pass: 4/26/22
• Enrolled: 5/27/22
• Chaptered: 6/8/22
• Passed: 6/8/22

Caption

Establishing a recruitment and retention program for state employment.

Impact

The bill will amend existing state laws pertaining to public employment recruitment and retention by enabling targeted financial incentives. The proposed program aims to make state employment more attractive amidst a competitive job market, particularly focusing on filling critical roles within state agencies. However, the exact financial implications remain undefined due to the bill's indeterminate scope regarding the potential number of new hires and the budgetary decisions made by individual state agencies. Expenditures related to the incentives will be categorized under legislatively-enacted public policy and will not be subject to collective bargaining agreements.

Summary

Senate Bill 226 (SB226) establishes a recruitment and retention program specifically designed for state employment in New Hampshire. This bill allows the director of the division of personnel, part of the department of administrative services, to develop criteria for such a program, which must receive prior approval from the fiscal committee of the general court. The criteria will include provisions for bonuses to newly hired employees and referral fees for current employees who successfully refer new applicants, ensuring that state agencies can incentivize their workforce development effectively.

Contention

Notable points of contention arise around the approval and implementation processes for the recruitment and retention program. While proponents argue that the incentives are essential for improving employee retention and attracting qualified candidates to state service, critics may raise concerns regarding the funding sources for such incentives and the lack of clear guidelines on how these programs will operate. There are also implications for collective bargaining processes, as the law explicitly states that the expenditures for incentives shall not be considered gifts and will be regulated separately from existing collective agreements.