Bill to fund state worker pay raises goes to House

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma House will consider amendments to legislation that would provide an 8 percent raise in pay for state employees. <br><br>The state Senate unanimously approved House

Tuesday, March 16th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma House will consider amendments to legislation that would provide an 8 percent raise in pay for state employees.

The state Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2005 on Monday.

The measure by state Sen. Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, would give state employees a 5 percent pay raise beginning Jan. 1 and an additional 3 percent raise July 1, 2005.

The legislation now must go back to the House of Representatives for consideration of the Senate amendments.

The measure likely will go to a House-Senate conference committee, where the final version will be written.

Gary Jones, executive director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, said the 8 percent figure was among the group's legislative recommendations.

``We are very excited that a pay raise proposal has come to the surface and now is working its way through the legislative process,'' Jones said. ``We know it has to go through the House, but the leadership has assured us a pay raise for state employees is a priority.''

Senators announced the plan last week.

If enacted, the raise would affect an about 34,000 state employees and cost $78.8 million when fully implemented.

It would be the first raise given to state employees since 2000.