An act relating to requirements for the pay plans of certain law enforcement officers and firefighters employed by the State

This bill requires law enforcement officers and firefighters working for specific Vermont state agencies to have access to a pay plan that allows them to reach the highest pay step after 18.5 years of service. It directly affects employees at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Liquor and Lottery, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and state firefighters. While the bill sets this requirement, it allows unions and the state to negotiate the specific number of pay steps, time in each step, and conditions for advancement through collective bargaining. The law includes a transition provision requiring affected pay plans to meet these requirements by July 1, 2024, with current employees receiving a one-step increase upon transitioning.