32 V.S.A. § 1281 — Adjustments to compensation and benefits of Executive and Judicial Branch employees

(a) The process described in this section shall apply to any requests for increased funding
that arise during a biennium when the State and the collective bargaining representative
for State employees have agreed to a two-year collective bargaining agreement that
begins in the first year of the legislative biennium.
(b) During the first year of the legislative biennium, the General Assembly shall hear
testimony from representatives of the Departments of Human Resources and of Finance
and Management, the Office of the Defender General, the Court Administrator, and the
collective bargaining representative before introducing a bill that increases funding
for pay and benefits for employees of the Executive or Judicial Branches of the State
of Vermont.
(c) Prior to the second year of the legislative biennium, if there are any requests to
increase funding beyond what has already been agreed to as a result of the collective
bargaining process, the request shall be presented to the Chairs of the House Committees
on Appropriations and on Government Operations and Military Affairs, after consultation
with the Secretary of Administration, not later than November 1 of the year preceding
the beginning of the second year of the biennium. If the Committee Chairs request
a review, the proposal to increase funding for pay and benefits shall be submitted
for study to a Committee that shall be known as the Pay Act Committee. The Pay Act
Committee shall consist of two members of the House Committee on Appropriations and
three members of the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs.
The Pay Act Committee shall meet not more than twice before the beginning of the legislative
session to hear testimony from interested parties. The Pay Act Committee shall present
a report on the proposal to the House Committees on Appropriations and on Government
Operations and Military Affairs not later than January 15 for further consideration. (