NRS: CHAPTER 285 - AWARDS TO STATE EMPLOYEES

[Rev. 1/16/2009 1:21:23 PM]

CHAPTER 285 - AWARDS TO STATE EMPLOYEES

NRS 285.020 Program for Merit Awards established.

NRS 285.030 Merit Award Board: Members; secretary; regulations; expenditures.

NRS 285.040 Investigation, review and evaluation of recommendations.

NRS 285.050 Conditions of eligibility for award.

NRS 285.060 Suggestions: Submission; agency’s findings and recommendations; review, evaluation and recommendations by Board.

NRS 285.070 Cash payment: Amount; limitations.

NRS 285.080 Service award; conditions; regulations.

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NRS 285.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Adoption” means the putting of an employee suggestion into effect.

2. “Board” means the Merit Award Board.

3. “Employee suggestion” means a proposal by a state employee which would:

(a) Reduce or eliminate state expenditures; or

(b) Improve the operation of State Government.

4. “Merit award” means an award to a state employee for an adopted suggestion in the form of either the Governor’s certificate of commendation or a cash payment.

5. “State employee” means any person employed by a state agency who is not the head of the department.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1065; A 1977, 452; 2001, 1311)

NRS 285.020 Program for Merit Awards established.

1. There is hereby established a Merit Award Program for state employees.

2. The award shall be designated as the Governor’s Award for Achievement of Excellence in State Service.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1065)

NRS 285.030 Merit Award Board: Members; secretary; regulations; expenditures.

1. The controlling authority of the Merit Award Program is the Merit Award Board.

2. The Board must be composed of five members as follows:

(a) Two members of the State of Nevada Employees Association designated by the executive committee of that association.

(b) One member from the Budget Division of the Department of Administration appointed by the Chief of the Budget Division.

(d) One member appointed by and representing the Governor.

3. The member from either the Budget Division of the Department of Administration or from the Department of Personnel must serve as the Secretary of the Board.

4. The Board shall adopt regulations for transacting its business and carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

5. Within the limits of legislative appropriations, the Board may expend up to $1,000 per year on expenses relating to the operation of the Board.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1065; A 1975, 190; 1981, 1684; 1983, 639; 1991, 1829)

NRS 285.040 Investigation, review and evaluation of recommendations. The Board shall investigate, review and evaluate the merits of each recommendation proposed.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1066)

NRS 285.050 Conditions of eligibility for award.

1. Every state employee is eligible to offer an employee suggestion.

2. To be eligible for an award an employee must propose a change which is not currently under active consideration by the state agency affected.

3. If duplicate suggestions are submitted, only the first suggestion received is eligible for an award.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1066; A 1991, 1830)

NRS 285.060 Suggestions: Submission; agency’s findings and recommendations; review, evaluation and recommendations by Board.

1. Employee suggestions shall be submitted in writing to the Board.

2. The Board may establish such additional standards for submission of suggestions as it deems proper.

3. The Secretary of the Board shall receive, record and acknowledge receipt of suggestions, and shall notify the suggestor of any undue delays in the consideration of his suggestion.

4. Suggestions shall be referred at once to the state agency or agencies affected for consideration. Within 30 days the agency shall report its findings and recommendations to the Board. The agency report shall indicate:

(a) Whether a suggestion has been adopted.

(b) If adopted, the day on which a suggestion was placed in effect.

(c) If adopted, any actual or estimated reduction, elimination or avoidance of expenditures or improvement in operations made possible by an employee’s suggestion.

(d) If rejected, the reasons for rejection.

5. The Board shall review agency findings and recommendations and may obtain additional information or take such other action as is necessary for prompt, thorough and impartial consideration of each suggestion.

6. The Board shall evaluate each suggestion, taking into consideration agency action, staff recommendations and the objectives of the Merit Award Program. For each suggestion eligible for an award the Board shall formulate an official recommendation covering the merit of the suggestion, and the amount of recommended award.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1066)

NRS 285.070 Cash payment: Amount; limitations.

1. Insofar as it may be equitable and practicable, the amount of the cash award allowed for an employee’s suggestion must be predicated upon the savings to the State. No cash award may exceed $500.

2. Cash payments to employees arising out of adopted suggestions must be paid from money appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.

3. No more than $5,000 each fiscal year may be distributed as cash payments to employees pursuant to NRS 285.010 to 285.070, inclusive.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1067; A 1975, 190; 1991, 1830)

NRS 285.080 Service award; conditions; regulations.

1. The Governor or head of a state agency may present service awards to state employees if:

(a) The cost of each award does not exceed the amount established by the State Board of Examiners; and

(b) The Office of the Governor or the agency has sufficient funds available for such awards.

2. The State Board of Examiners shall establish by regulation a maximum amount of money that the Governor or the head of a state agency may spend on a service award pursuant to this section.

3. As used in this section, “service award” means a suitable symbol, other than money, for faithful and exceptional public service.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 452; A 2001, 1311)