Provide a 15% pay raise for non-uniformed workers working within Dept of Corrections
Summary
HB3390 would amend West Virginia law governing the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a 15% wage increase for non-uniformed workers. The bill is narrowly focused on compensation and does not change the duties, classification, or benefits structure of these employees beyond the salary increase described in the bill text.
The measure also retains existing statutory language about how the commissioner approves salaries, including provisions on meals, household facilities, supplies, reimbursement of travel and other expenses, and limited reimbursement for employee property damaged or stolen by inmates or residents. The new operative change is the addition of a subsection stating that non-uniformed workers within the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall receive the 15% raise upon passage.
Impact
If enacted, HB3390 would directly increase payroll costs for the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and would require the state to fund higher wages for affected non-uniformed employees. It would amend and reenact §15A-3-7 of the West Virginia Code, making the salary increase part of the governing statute for division employees and affecting state budgeting, personnel administration, and compensation practices for this subset of correctional workers.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the limited context provided, the bill appears generally supportive of correctional employees and is framed as a pay adjustment rather than a controversial policy change. The available materials do not include committee debate, recorded votes, or amendments, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or broad contention in the provided record.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is fiscal: a 15% raise for non-uniformed Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation workers would increase state spending, which could prompt questions about budget impact and whether the raise should be limited to this employee group. Another possible issue is equity relative to other state employees or uniformed correctional staff, but no specific objections or competing viewpoints are included in the provided discussion or voting history.