House advances overtime pay bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State workers would be allowed to choose between time off or extra pay as compensation for working overtime, under legislation given first-round approval Tuesday by the House.

Rep. Bill Deeken, R-Jefferson City, said his legislation would raise morale by letting state employees know they can be paid extra for working extra hours. He said some employees currently are asked to work overtime but aren't paid extra and sometimes are prohibited from taking compensatory time off.

State workers "should be allowed to take the money or the time off when they want to do it," Deeken said.

The bill needs a second vote to advance to the Senate.

Under the bill, a state employee who works more than 40 hours in a week could be paid time-and-a-half or take time off. Employees who work on a state holiday also would be allowed to take comp time or regular pay for that day.

Similar legislation passed the House late in the 2002 session but died in the Senate. This year's session ends May 14.

The overtime measure is separate from a $1,200 pay raise for most state workers included in the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

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Overtime bill is HB1548.

On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us