Oklahoma legislators, officials shocked Gov. Stitt vetoed bipartisan bill that extends state employees’ unused vacation time

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – State legislators and officers are saying they’re dismayed Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed a bipartisan invoice that was created to increase state staff’ unused trip time.

State Senator Frank Simpson, R-Springer, issued feedback by Oklahoma Senate Communications, saying he’s shocked and dissatisfied that Stitt vetoed Senate Invoice 176, which was unanimously accepted by each the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma Home of Representatives.

SB 176 would have prolonged the deadline handed within the final legislative session, quickly rising state staff’ annual depart accumulation limits and permitting these employees to hold over their unused annual depart past the state-allowed cap as a result of COVID-19 pandemic till the top of Fiscal Yr 2022. The invoice would have prolonged the profit by the top of Fiscal Yr 2023.

“I’m past upset and confused by Governor Stitt vetoing this measure to guard the annual depart of 1000’s of state staff who have been unable to take off and use their legally earned time through the pandemic,” Simpson mentioned. “Whereas a lot of the state was shut down in 2020 and elements of 2021, our state staff labored even longer hours to supply essential state companies to the residents of Oklahoma. This invoice merely acknowledged the distinctive circumstances of the pandemic and would have given these public servants yet one more yr to make use of their trip time. That is the least the state of Oklahoma can do to precise our gratitude for the unbelievable dedication proven by these frontline professionals all through the COVID-19 disaster. Sadly, the work of our state staff has typically been missed by this ordeal, and Governor Stitt’s veto is the last word insult to them. This invoice is not going to negatively influence taxpayers or state companies until our state staff give up from the governor’s thoughtless veto and unfair therapy.”

Stitt mentioned in his veto message that the laws would have a detrimental influence on taxpayers and create a seamless fiscal burden on state companies. Simpson, nevertheless, mentioned Stitt’s argument is totally false and thoughtless of the state’s 33,000 hardworking state staff. He mentioned a fiscal evaluation of the invoice reveals little or no to no influence on taxpayers or state companies.

Present legislation permits state staff to accrue a set quantity of annual depart based mostly on their years of service. An worker has till December 31 to make use of any extra annual depart as soon as the cap is surpassed, or it’s misplaced.

The restrict is 240 hours for state staff with lower than 5 years of service, whereas staff with 5 or extra years of service can accrue as much as 480 hours.

“On account of working prolonged hours and weekends after which not with the ability to take off as a consequence of employees shortages, COVID-19 quarantines, and different points, many state staff will probably be compelled to lose tons of of hours of annual depart on June 30 when FY’22 ends. SB 176 would have supplied state staff yet one more yr to spend their extra annual depart,” a Senate information launch states.

Home Veterans Committee Chair Tommy Hardin, R-Madill, mentioned state staff serving Oklahoma veterans are amongst those that will lose depart time as a result of Stitt vetoed the invoice.

“I’m deeply dissatisfied within the Governor’s veto of SB 176. The state staff who labored throughout a really essential time in our historical past and weren’t in a position to take their earned depart are actually wrongly being punished for serving the individuals of Oklahoma,” Hardin mentioned. “Amongst these affected by this veto are medical professionals at our state veterans’ properties. In the course of the pandemic and the following variants of COVID-19, these devoted professionals labored lengthy hours to deal with our getting older heroes. This veto is disgraceful.”

Oklahoma Public Worker Affiliation (OPEA) Govt Director Sterling Zearley was additionally dissatisfied by Stitt’s veto.

“We’re dissatisfied that SB 176 was vetoed. Oklahoma state staff have been stretched thinner than ever earlier than because the begin of the pandemic in March 2020. Subsequently, many staff have been unable to make use of their earned depart as a result of essential staffing ranges paired with the pandemic response,” Zearley mentioned.