SECTION 340:2-1-32. Salary Administration Plan and Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Compensation Guidelines (DHSCG)

(a)   Salary Administration Plan (SAP). The SAP is based on the standard that employees performing similar work receive similar pay and that variation in the requirements is reflected equitably in the pay band. The salary range established for each job family and level provides a minimum hiring rate and maximum salary rate.

(1)   Computation of salary payments. DHS employees are paid on a monthly basis per applicable salary schedules. The pay period extends from the 16th day of each month through the 15th day of the following month.

(2)   Entrance salary. The entrance salary for positions in the classified service is the entry salary identified in the SAP, except as provided in Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 260:25-7-1 through 260:25-7-27. The entrance salary for positions in the unclassified service is normally a comparable salary. Requests to establish salary above the established minimum hiring rate may be processed per the special entrance rate or salary exception request process as described in the DHSCG. The salary of a new employee is effective on the employee's first working day.

(3)   Salary increase. Salary increases are not automatic, but are granted per SAP and applicable legislation.

(4)   Equity and salary adjustments. For classified employees, an equity pay adjustment is a mechanism authorized per appropriate Merit Rules and DHSCG. For employees in the unclassified service, a change in salary is per DHSCG or applicable legislation.

(b)   Performance-based incentive compensation program. A person employed full-time as Child Welfare (CW) specialist I through IV, exclusively working as a CW specialist, may be eligible once per year for the performance-based incentive compensation program authorized by Section 1-9-109 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

(1)   Incentive compensation. The incentive compensation is a lump sum performance incentive of one and one-half percent of the established annual base salary of the eligible employee. The lump sum incentive compensation does not increase the base salary of the employee.

(2)   Requirements. To be eligible for the incentive compensation, the employee must meet the criteria included in (A) or (B) of this paragraph.

(A)   Master-level employees must:

(i)   have an overall rating of exceeds standards on the most recently completed performance evaluation;

(ii)   have a master's degree from an institution accredited by a generally accepted accrediting body and accepted for transfer credit by the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education, in:

(I)   social work;

(II)   human relations;

(III)   psychology;

(IV)   sociology;

(V)   guidance and counseling;

(VI)   juvenile justice; or

(VII)   child development;

(iii)   have completed all required DHS sponsored field training per OAC 340:75-1-231 and 340:75-1-232; and

(iv)   be assigned to the same office for 12 consecutive months on the day of the employee's annual performance review.

(B)   Employees in offices who meet the DHS Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) standards must:

(i)   have an overall rating of at least meets standards on the most recently completed Performance Evaluation;

(ii)   have completed all required DHS-sponsored field training per OAC 340:75-1-231 and 340:75-1-232; and

(iii)   be assigned to the same office for 12 consecutive months on the date of the CFSR per OAC 340:75-18-10.

(I)   The office must meet or exceed all current federal standards for outcomes in safety, permanency, and well-being by children and families.

(II)   The CFSR is completed yearly by DHS utilizing current CFSR national standards as adopted by the Administration for Children and Family Services of the United States Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to Sections 1355.31 through 1355.37 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended.

[Source: Amended at 10 Ok Reg 3943, eff 6-22-93 (emergency); Amended at 11 Ok Reg 1607, eff 5-12-94; Amended at 11 Ok Reg 3623, eff 7-1-94 (emergency); Amended at 12 Ok Reg 535, eff 12-10-94 (emergency); Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1387, eff 5-26-95; Amended at 13 Ok Reg 421, eff 11-14-95 (emergency); Amended at 13 Ok Reg 2583, eff 6-28-96; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1008, eff 4-26-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2592, eff 6-26-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2182, eff 6-27-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 1981, eff 6-26-03; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 342, eff 1-1-07 (emergency); Amended at 24 Ok Reg 977, eff 5-11-07; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1559, eff 9-17-18]