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HB 5571

To provide a pay equity salary adjustment for non-uniformed employees of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Brooks and 7 co-sponsors

HB 5571 provides a $6,000 three-year pay increase to all corrections/juvenile and regional jail staff, plus additional three-year raises for non-uniform DCR admin staff, funded by

To House Finance
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Bill Summary · HB 5571

Summary of HB 5571 (2026) — West Virginia

Purpose and Intent

  • Introduces a pay equity salary adjustment and increases for specific state employees.
  • Aims to address recruitment and retention challenges within the Division of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority (collectively, the corrections/jail sector).
  • Provides targeted salary increases for two groups: (1) non-uniform administrative staff employed by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) and (2) all employees across the Division of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and the Regional Jail Authority.

Key Provisions and Changes

A. Pay Equity Increase for Corrections-related Employees (General)

  • Total pay increase: $6,000 per employee, allocated across three years.
  • Timing:
    • Year 1: July 1, 2018 — $2,000 annual increase
    • Year 2: July 1, 2019 — $2,000 annual increase
    • Year 3: July 1, 2020 — $2,000 annual increase
  • Funding:
    • For Division of Corrections and Division of Juvenile Services employees: funded from their respective general revenue appropriations.
    • For the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority employees: funded from the special revenue fund established in §31-20-10; no additional general revenue appropriations are required.

B. Pay Equity Increase for Non-Uniform Administrative Staff (DCR)

  • Target: Full-time equivalent (FTE) employees of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation who are non-uniform administrative staff.
  • Total pay increase: $6,000 per employee, allocated across three years.
  • Timing:
    • Year 1: July 1, 2026 — $2,000 annual increase
    • Year 2: July 1, 2027 — $2,000 annual increase
    • Year 3: July 1, 2028 — $2,000 annual increase
  • Funding:
    • From general revenue appropriations to the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
    • If applicable to regional jail staff, funded from the regional jail special revenue fund (consistent with other items in the bill).

C. Administrative and Funding Details

  • The bill explicitly notes the pay adjustments are funded from specified funding streams (general revenue vs. special revenue) and are designed to avoid requiring additional general revenue if possible for certain components.
  • If any provision conflicts with existing rules or code, the bill’s provisions control.
  • The adjustments are described as rehabilitative in nature; no private right of action is created by the bill.

D. Implementation Notes

  • The bill contemplates a 2026 reenactment for the non-uniform administrative staff pay adjustment, with funding sourced from the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s general revenue appropriations and, for regional jail staff, from the regional jail special revenue fund.
  • Provisions addressing maximum pay grade: if a raised employee’s pay exceeds the maximum of their pay grade, the increase still applies.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary beneficiaries:
    • Non-uniform administrative staff within the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR).
    • All employees of the Division of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority.
  • Fiscal impact varies by employee group, but the plan spreads increases over three years and allocates funding through specified state funds (general vs. special revenue).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: February 16, 2026.
  • Referred to: House Committee on Finance.
  • Effective implementation dates:
    • Corrections/Juvenile Services general adjustments: past dates (2018-2020) for the first section, indicating past appropriations may have already occurred under current law or as envisioned for phased implementation.
    • DCR non-uniform administrative staff: July 1 of 2026, 2027, and 2028.
  • Notes:
    • The bill’s language indicates it may be a reenactment for the 2026 session.
    • The pay adjustments align with efforts to improve equity in compensation and retention for corrections-related personnel.

Summary

HB 5571 seeks to rectify pay equity gaps by providing a total of $6,000 in three annual installments to two groups: (1) all employees in the corrections/juvenile services and regional jail sectors, and (2) specifically non-uniform administrative staff within the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The funding sources are delineated by department and fund type, with phased implementation and explicit language to override conflicting rules where necessary. The bill targets improved recruitment and retention in a sector facing staffing challenges.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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