CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REJECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED SALARY INCREASES FOR ELIGIBLE UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE DIRECTORS OF STATE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marvin Abney and 9 co-sponsors

HCR 6327 blocks the DOA's proposed raises for 11 unclassified-service state department directors; if both Houses pass, the increases do not take effect.

05/09/2025 Recommended for Immediate Consideration

Overview

Bill type: Joint and Concurrent Resolution

Bill number: HCR 6327

Title: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REJECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED SALARY INCREASES FOR ELIGIBLE UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE DIRECTORS OF STATE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

Introduced: May 9, 2025

Status: 05/09/2025 Recommended for Immediate Consideration

Sponsor(s): Reps. Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Ackerman, Chippendale, Kazarian, Hull, Place, J. Brien, Corvese, Abney

Purpose and Intent

The resolution is intended to reject the Department of Administration’s (DOA) proposed salary increases for eleven eligible unclassified-service directors of state executive departments.

It uses the statutory mechanism provided by Rhode Island General Law to reject proposed salaries before they take effect.

Key Provisions

The resolution states that a majority of both the House and Senate voting in the affirmative is required to reject the DOA’s proposed increases, in accordance with Rhode Island General Laws § 36-4-16.4.

It specifically rejects the eleven proposed salary increases that were notified to the General Assembly in a letter dated April 18, 2025, from the DOA to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.

By rejecting the proposals, the salary increases would not go into effect.

Affected Parties and Scope

Directly affected: Eleven eligible unclassified-service directors who lead state executive departments or executive offices (i.e., heads of departments or offices whose salaries were proposed to be increased).

Indirectly affected: The DOA’s salary-setting process and the governance relationship between the DOA and the General Assembly.

Procedural and Timeline Context

Legal framework: RIGL § 36-4-16.4 requires a public hearing (conducted March of each year) to determine salaries, with referral to the General Assembly by the last day of April. If not rejected by formal action of both Houses within 30 days, the proposed salaries may go into effect.

Recent steps: Public hearing held March 26, 2025; DOA referred 11 proposed salary increases to the General Assembly (letter dated April 18, 2025).

Current action: The General Assembly is being asked to approve a concurrent resolution to reject those increases.

Next steps: If both Houses pass the resolution with a majority, the proposed salary increases are blocked. If not, the DOA’s proposed increases could become effective after the 30-day window.

Context and Impact

This resolution expresses the General Assembly’s position on DOA salary proposals for senior department leadership.

As a concurrent resolution, it is a formal affirmation of rejection by the legislature; it does not itself authorize new salaries but prevents the proposed increases from taking effect if adopted.

Bill