Wages
Effective no later than July 1, 2019, a general cost of living adjustment wage increase (COLA) consisting of 3% will be added to each grade and step of the pay plan(s) affecting bargaining unit employees.
If (final) actual General fund revenue collections for fiscal year 2019 exceed the Board of Estimates’ official estimate of December 2019 by an amount of greater than $75 million, the Governor shall agree to request a deficiency appropriation at the 2020 Session of the Maryland General Assembly in an amount sufficient to provide all permanent State employees of bargaining unit E a 1% COLA effective January 1, 2020.
Hiring and Retention Bonuses
Effective July 1, 2019, the Nurse Hiring Bonus and the Nurse Retention and Attendance Bonus programs will be eliminated.
Annual Salary Review
As a result of the Annual Salary Review process, effective July 1, 2019 the following bargaining unit classifications will receive a one-grade (6%) increase:
- Alcohol and Drug Counselor classifications listed in Attachment I to this Amendment;
- Epidemiologist I,II, and III;
- Mental Health Counselor classifications listed in Attachment I ; and
- Nursing classifications listed in Attachment I.
Loan Repayment Plan
The parties have agreed to the following broad framework for a Student Loan Repayment Plan (SLRP), recognizing that the State will need to make changes to these provisions as it begins to implement and administer the Plan. Specific eligibility criteria will be agreed to by the parties and included in the service and loan repayment agreement.
The following classifications are eligible to enroll in the SLRP for the period of July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2010:
- Alcohol and Drug Counselor classifications listed in Attachment I to this Amendment;
- Epidemiologist I,II, and III;
- Mental Health Counselor classifications listed in Attachment I ;
- Nursing classifications listed in Attachment I;
- Physician Clinical Specialist;
- Physician Program Specialist; and
- Physician Program Staff.
Student loan debt of the employee or the employee’s child under the age of 25 may be repaid, subject to the terms and conditions of a service commitment and loan repayment agreement, in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for a 10-year service commitment to the State by the employee.
If two eligible employees are the parents of a child, each employee may apply SLRP repayments towards the child’s student loan debt in an amount not to exceed $20,000 per employee.
After signing the 10-year service agreement and loan repayment agreement, employees are eligible for a maximum of $20,000 in loan repayments at the intervals specified on the following repayment schedule:
- After year one: up to $2,000
- After year three: up to $2,000
- After year five: up to $4,000
- After year seven: up to $6,000
- After year ten: up to $6,000
Upon the completion of each repayment as noted above and before any repayment is made; participating employees must: 1) present evidence of loan payments made within the repayment interval; and 2) provide a notarized certification attesting that the loan payments were the student loan debt of the employee or the employee’s child.
In the event that an employee becomes ineligible to continue participation in the SLRP, the State will not seek to recapture prior SLRP disbursement(s). However, there will be no prorated SLRP payments for partial completion of a repayment interval.
State loan repayments shall not exceed a participating employee’s loan payments for any service period. Only State service occurring on or after January 1, 2019 is eligible to count towards the years of service requirement under this loan repayment program.
For employees transferring to another State agency, it is the responsibility of the employee to consult with the new agency to determine whether the new agency will agree to continue the loan repayment plan. To the extent possible, the State shall ensure that the reimbursement for the loan is made in a form that is not subject to taxes.
Attachment I
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Classifications:
A/D Associate Counselor Provisional
A/D Associate Counselor
A/D Associate Counselor, Lead
A/D Professional Counselor Provisional
A/D Professional Counselor
A/D Professional Counselor Advanced
Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Prevent Specialist
Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Prevent Coordinator
Licensed Graduate A/D Counselor
Licensed Clinical A/D Counselor
Licensed Clinical A/D Counselor Adv
PSCS A/D Associate Counselor
PSCS A/D Associate Counselor Provisional
PSCS A/D Associate Counselor Lead
PSCS A/D Professional Counselor
PSCS A/D Professional Counselor Advanced
PSCS A/D Professional Counselor Provisional
Mental Health Counselor Classifications:
Mental Health Graduate Professional Counselor
Mental Health Professional Counselor
Mental Health Professional Counselor Advanced
Nursing Classifications:
Clinical Nurse Specialist-Medical
Clinical Nurse Specialist-Psychiatric
Clinical Nurse Specialist-Perkins
Community Health Nurse I
Community Health Nurse II
Community Health Nurse Psychiatric
Health Facilities Surveyor Nurse I
Health Facilities Surveyor Nurse II
Home Health Nurse
Medical Services Reviewing Nurse I
Medical Services Reviewing Nurse II
MSD Registered Nurse
Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric MDH
Nurse Practitioner/Midwife I
Nurse Practitioner/Midwife II
Nursing Instructor
Nursing Instructor Perkins
Nursing Program Consultant/Administrator I
Nursing Program Consultant/Administrator II
Nursing Program Consultant/Administrator III
Nursing Program Consultant/Administrator IV
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse Charge Med
Registered Nurse Charge Perkins
Registered Nurse Charge Psych
Registered Nurse Perkins
Registered Nurse Quality Improvement Med
Registered Nurse Quality Improvement Psych
Respiratory Care Nurse
DOT Nurse Case Reviewer