RALEIGH — The North Carolina Senate passed a measure to increase pay and enhance benefits for law enforcement officers in the state.
“Every morning, the hardworking men and women in law enforcement wake up and put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) said in a press release. “This salary package represents the General Assembly’s commitment to supporting and honoring those who protect us day in and day out.”
Salary raises in the “Back the Blue Pay Act” vary by agency and experience and would be retroactive to July 1.
According to Berger’s press release, correctional officers would get a “6.5% raise, for a total raise of 8.9%, including step increases.”
A 6.5% raise for sworn members of the State Highway Patrol, State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) is provided through a $10.9 million allocation also used “to standardize the experience-based law enforcement salary schedule.”
All other state law enforcement officers, the State Capitol Police, and officers serving with the Division of Marine Fisheries, Forestry, Parks and Wildlife Resources would get the same 6.5% raise.
SBI and ALE officers returning to a step schedule would see an “average salary increase of 14.4%, including step movement,” according to Berger’s press release. Non-sworn SBI administrative employees would receive a 5.75% salary increase and also have protection from salary range caps.
State Highway Patrol officers would get an average salary bump of 9.2% that includes the step schedule.
Juvenile Justice would see $5.1 million in recurring funds for salary schedule increases and an “across-the-board salary increase” to address “salary compression issues.”
Probation and parole officers would get a raise of 6.9%, including step increases.
A bonus of $3,000 over the biennium for state and local law enforcement officers is included in the measure.
The act passed the Senate unanimously 48-0 on Sept. 22, but the House has not yet taken up the measure.
