The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services will use money provided by lawmakers to retain employees primarily for training and professional development opportunities, Director Scott Frakes announced Wednesday.Ìý
The $1.5 million was allocated by the Legislature during the past session to retain quality staff in workforce shortage areas. It originated with a bill (LB733) introduced by Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse that would have appropriated $2.5 million in fiscal year 2016-17.
The Appropriations Committee reduced the amount to $1.5 million.Ìý
"Do I think that's the most efficient use (of the money)? No," state employees union Executive Director Mike Marvin said of Frakes' plan. "But they gave him enough leeway he could use it however he felt.
"I would have put it out as bonus money to retain people."
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The union contract allows for merit increases and bonuses for employees.Ìý
In a memo sent to Corrections employees Wednesday, Frakes said the most successful and enduring organizations devote time, energy and money to retaining employees.Ìý
The $1.5 million retention plan includes training and professional development opportunities for all levels of staff, resources to help cope with challenges and stress unique to prison work, wellness amenities and a commuting bonus for people who work at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Behavioral health staff also will get additional educational benefits.Ìý
Frakes said he has listened to feedback from staff, lawmakers and others on how to use the money, adding that it will help with goals to transform the Corrections Department.
Gov. Pete Ricketts brought Frakes to Nebraska in early 2015 to lead the department after a series of problems that included the accidental release of hundreds of prison inmates earlier than intended. The Legislature formed a special investigative committee to look into that and into an array of Corrections issues including mental health treatment for inmates, the case of Nikko Jenkins, who killed four people within days of his release from prison, and the state's purchase of lethal injection drugs.
On Wednesday, Frakes said the retention plan will help with the growth and promotion of staff. A professional development bonus would cover the cost of courses and provide additional money to those who complete selected online classes. It would pay for continuing education requirements for licensed health care employees, to help behavioral health staff get drug and alcohol counselor certification, and for other training. Â
It would also provide for resiliency training and access to exercise equipment to address the long-term effect of prison stress on overall health and functioning of staff.Ìý
Getting more pay for Nebraska Corrections workers, in particular security staff, has been an issue for a while. A recent culture study showed more than 60 percent of them were dissatisfied with their wages.Ìý
Starting wages are not competitive with private employers in Nebraska or government pay in surrounding states, workers said. Long-term workers often make the same wages as those newly hired. And that affects morale.
Watermeier said it was hard to accomplish what the Legislature wanted, which was to give workers more pay, because collective bargaining requirements limit what lawmakers can do. Â Â
If the Legislature could have provided an ongoing appropriation for base pay, he said, he would have felt more comfortable putting his foot down and saying the $1.5 million had to be spent on bonuses.
"I kind of suspected this would happen," he said. "And I guess I'm willing to say they're using it to the best of their ability. But to just give somebody a bonus, and then not give it to them next year, that's going to be hard to do."
Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash wanted the Legislature to raise the workers' baseline salaries as well.
"I 100 percent support paying Corrections officers what they are worth," he said during debate last session. Â
Lincoln Sen. Matt Hansen introduced a bill (LB896) that would have required pay increases for state employees based on longevity, on top of other increases. It would have started with an increase of 6.25 cents per hour on the fifth anniversary of date of hire and increase in five-year increments until it reached 50 cents per hour on their 40th anniversary.Ìý
That bill died in committee.Ìý
Watermeier said he wants to come back next year and continue to work for more money for Corrections staff.Ìý