1     
STATE EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE AMENDMENTS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Ashlee Matthews

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses the use of certain unexpended appropriations.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms; and
13          ▸     allows an executive branch agency to use appropriated funds for one-time employee
14     incentive expenses, if:
15               •     the Legislature appropriated the funds for a full-time employee position; and
16               •     the executive branch agency was unable to fill the full-time employee position
17     before the end of the fiscal year, despite best efforts.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     ENACTS:
24          63J-1-604, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 63J-1-604 is enacted to read:

28          63J-1-604. Use of unexpended appropriations for employee incentives.
29          (1) As used in this section:
30          (a) "Appropriation balance" means the unexpended or unencumbered balance of a line
31     item appropriation made by the Legislature to an agency that exists at the end of a fiscal year.
32          (b) (i) "Employee incentive expense" means a one-time expense paid or incurred for
33     the purpose of:
34          (A) recognizing or rewarding individuals in a full-time employee position; and
35          (B) incentivizing the recipient to remain in a full-time employee position.
36          (ii) "Employee incentive expense" includes an expense for:
37          (A) a monetary performance award;
38          (B) additional paid leave;
39          (C) a career development opportunity;
40          (D) educational assistance;
41          (E) wellness support; or
42          (F) an equipment allowance.
43          (c) (i) "Executive branch agency" means a department, division, office, bureau, or other
44     organization within the state executive branch.
45          (ii) "Executive branch agency" includes an agency under the authority of the governor,
46     lieutenant governor, state treasurer, state auditor, or attorney general.
47          (iii) "Executive branch agency" does not include the Utah System of Higher Education
48     or an independent entity, as defined in Section 63E-1-102.
49          (d) "Full-time employee position" means an employment position in an executive
50     branch agency:
51          (i) with a term of employment that contemplates continued employment during a fiscal
52     or calendar year;
53          (ii) that normally requires an average of 20 hours or more per week; and
54          (iii) that includes benefits normally provided by the executive branch agency.
55          (e) "Full-time employee vacancy" means a full-time employee position in an executive
56     branch agency for which the executive branch agency made best efforts to hire but was unable
57     to hire a qualified individual before the end of a fiscal year.
58          (f) "Vacancy balance" means an appropriation balance that is the result of a full-time

59     employee vacancy.
60          (2) An executive branch agency may use a vacancy balance to pay for an employee
61     incentive expense.