State of California
   
   M E M O R A N D U M
   
   REFERENCE CODE:
   PML 96-023
   
   DATE:
   May 29, 1996
   
   TO:
   Personnel Officers
   Employee Relations Officers
   
   
   FROM:
   Department of Personnel Administration
   Office of the Director
   
   SUBJECT:
   Proposed Amendments to State Merit Award Regulations
   
   
   CONTACT:
   Doris Dominey, Merit Award Program
   (916) 324-0520, CALNET 454-0520
   Office Vision:  DPA(DSDOMINEY)
   Internet:  DSDOMINEY@SMTP.DPA.CA.GOV
   
   
   
   The Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) is
   proposing amendments to the regulations governing the
   State Merit Award Program (599.655 thru 599.664).  The
   regulatory notice, initial statement of reasons, and
   regulation text are enclosed.  This material has also been
   sent to Department Directors, Agency Secretaries,
   Personnel Officers, Employee Relations Officers, Merit
   Award Administrators, and State Employee Organizations.
   
   The proposed regulations clarify program definitions and
   the roles of the departments, agencies, DPA, and the Merit
   Award Board for processing suggestions and appeals
   submitted through the employee suggestion program; revise
   eligibility requirements for employees in Career Executive
   Assignments and exempt positions designated as
   "managerial"; revise methods for calculating awards; and
   expand options available to departments for granting
   Superior Accomplishment awards.
   
   A public hearing relative to the adoption of these
   regulations has been scheduled for July 18, 1996 in the
   Feather Room at DPA's State Training Center, 1515 "S"
   Street, North Building, First Floor, Sacramento,
   California.  The Feather Room is wheelchair accessible.
   
   Comments and questions regarding the proposed regulations,
   as well as requests to testify at the hearing, should be
   addressed to Doris Dominey, Manager, Merit Award Program,
   Department of Personnel Administration, 1515 "S" Street,
   North Building, Suite 400, Sacramento, California 95814-
   7243, telephone (916) 324-0520, Calnet 454-0520, or fax
   (916) 327-0568.
   
   
   
   
   David J. Tirapelle
   Director
   
   Enclosure will be mailed with the printed copy of this
   memo.