STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

MEMORANDUM NO. 2001-48

August 15, 2001

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

I. AUTHORITY

The arbitration award between the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Employees Union Independent concerning the Maintenance and Service (NP-2) bargaining unit for the period July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2002 was approved by the Legislature on July 23, 2001.

II. TRAINING (Article 10)

A. Tuition Reimbursement (Article 10.3a)

 

The State will allocate $50,000 during each contract year for tuition reimbursement. Employees are entitled to reimbursement up to a maximum of $150 per credit for undergraduate courses and $200 per credit for graduate courses up to a maximum of eighteen (18) credits per year.

 

B. Professional Development (Article 10.3b)

 

The State will allocate $45,000 in each contract year for the purpose of providing relevant education and training to employees in conjunction with the Department of Education or comparable programs.

 

C. Conference Fund (Article 10.3c)

 

Twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars will be allocated per contract year for attendance at workshops, seminars or conferences by employees. A maximum of four hundred and fifty ($450) dollars will be allotted for any one attendance and no employee will attend more than two conferences, workshops or seminars per contract year. The funds will be used for fees and/or travel expenses including meals and lodging. Funds which are unexpended in one contract year will carry over into the next contract year. The conference fund will expire with the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement which is June 30, 2002. Requests which are submitted and approved within the final six months of the contract may be paid with any remaining available funds up to three months following expiration of the contract.

 

D. Unexpended Funds

 

Funds which are unexpended in one contract year will carry over into the next contract year and the balance of these funds will be available in addition to the new balances. The union will upon request be able to interchange funds between the Professional Development, Tuition Reimbursement, and Conference Funds.

III. MEALS (Article 41)

A. Article 41.1

 

During the life of this agreement, the rates charged to employees for meals will be as follows:

 

Breakfast	$ .75
Lunch	$1.25
Dinner	$1.25

 

B. Article 41.2

 

Employees whose jobs require they remain on duty on a regular basis during the lunch break will be entitled to an employer-provided meal at no cost, provided the employer has dining facilities. This applies to first, second, and third shift employees. These provisions do not apply to employees who may be eligible for meals under Article 42.

IV. MEAL POLICY (Article 42.2)

At all agencies possessing dining facilities, meals will be provided at no cost.

 

At agencies without dining facilities, the maximum meal allowances will be:

 

6:00 am	Breakfast	$ 5.50
Noon	Lunch	$ 7.50
6:00 pm	Dinner	$13.00

V. HOUSING (Article 43)

As of June 30, 1991, the rental amounts charged to all employees will be equal to the rental values as defined in Article 43.1a.

VI. EMPLOYEE EXPENSES (Article 57)

A. Mileage Reimbursement (Article 57.1)

 

Mileage reimbursement is at the U.S. General Services Administration rate of 34.5 cents per mile. The rate will be adjusted within thirty (30) days of readjustment by the General Services Administration.

 

B. Business Travel Reimbursement Rates (Article 57.2)

 

Reimbursement rates for business travel are the following:

 

Breakfast	$ 5.00
Lunch	$ 7.00
Dinner	$16.00
Miscellaneous	$ 4.00

VII. LICENSE FEES (Article 60.6)

The employer will reimburse barbers, hairdressers, ferry captains and electronic technicians for the cost of a license required by the employer as a condition of employment or otherwise necessary for execution of assigned duties. Requests for reimbursement will be processed upon presentation of a validated license and proof of payment.

VIII. TRAVEL AND TUITION REIMBURSEMENT

A. Retroactive Travel Reimbursements

Travel reimbursements to employees must be submitted on a CO-17XP-A form. This Addendum form must be completed when claiming retroactive meal or travel allowances and must be used in conjunction with the CO-17XP-PR Employee Voucher. Attach a copy of the Travel Authorization, original CO-17XP-PR, and original CO-17XP-A, as the retroactive claim may affect the reportable amount. Write RETRO on the top of the CO-17XP-PR.

 

For current travel reimbursements, agencies must complete Form CO-17XP-PR and send it to the Comptroller's Business Office. The processing of the 9916 travel reimbursement is contingent upon the availability of funds.

 

B. Tuition Reimbursement - 9916 Fund

The State will honor reimbursement claims submitted by employees for contract years 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, if such claims meet the contractual standards, and to the extent that the aggregate of such claims will not exceed the permissible limitations.

 

Applications for tuition reimbursement for Summer 1999, Fall 1999, Spring 2000, Summer 2000, Fall 2000, and Spring 2001 should have been forwarded to the Comptroller's Management Services Division - Support Services Unit. If not sent, please submit on a new and separate Expenditure Batch List. Include copies of prior payments received, and if this applies, write in the upper right hand corner of the Batch Header (CO-19) 1999/00 or 2000/2001. Please Note: Reimbursements cannot be made until the release of funding by the Office of Policy and Management.

IX. PAYROLL PROCEDUES FOR MEALS AND HOUSING

Existing payroll procedures will apply. For coding instructions, please refer to the Comptroller's Statewide Payroll Systems Procedures Manual as follows:

 

A. Plus Maintenance - Appendix 1, Other Earnings, Page AP1.8.

B. Rent - Appendix 2, Deductions, Page AP2.72.

X. GENERAL

Questions regarding this memorandum may be directed to the following divisions in the Office of the State Comptroller:

 

Payroll Procedures: Payroll Services Division, (860) 702-3463;
Remote Job Entry: (860) 702-3451;

9916 Travel Authorization Approval Processing: Management Services Division,

(860) 702-3368;

9916 Travel Reimbursement Processing : Management Services Division,

(860) 702-3335;

9916 Tuition Reimbursement Processing: Management Services Division,

(860) 702-3346;

Memorandum Interpretation: Policy Services Division, (860) 702-3440;

 

Contract Interpretation: Agency Personnel Officer.

NANCY WYMAN
STATE COMPTROLLER

NW:CH

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